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肩書を与える: So Evil My Love (For Her to See)
Author: Marjorie Bowen
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Language: English
Date first 地位，任命するd:  損なう 2014
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So Evil My Love
(For Her to See)

by

Marjorie Bowen

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE FILM

First US 版: Harper & Brothers, New York, 1947
First UK 版: Hutchinson & Co, London, 1947
as For Her to See

PRODUCTION NOTE

There were no 一時期／支部 or section headings in the paper 調書をとる／予約する from which this ebook was made. A line of capitalised text 示すd the beginning of each "section." Numbers have been 追加するd to this ebook, at the point of each line of capitalised text, to 援助（する） in 航海. The capitalised text has been 取って代わるd with appropriate upper and lower 事例／患者 text.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

• Illustration 1.
  Cover of first 版 and poster for 1948 film.
• Illustration 2.
  Ray Milland and Ann Todd in "So Evil My Love"
• Illustration 3.
  A Scene from "So Evil My Love"
• Illustration 4.
  "So Evil My Love" — Ann Todd and Ray Milland
• Illustration 5.
  On the 始める，決める of "So Evil My Love" — Ann Todd and the Make-up Artist
• Illustration 6.
  "So Evil My Love" — A 劇の Film Poster
• Illustration 7.
  A Poster Advertising the French 見解／翻訳／版 of "So Evil My Love"

"So Evil My Love"—First 版 調書をとる／予約する cover and poster for 1948 film

ｧ 1

There was very little for her to see as Mrs. Sacret の近くにd the mean door, on her empty home. There was no one in the street of small, ugly houses, the sky was a fleckless and pallid blue, the highroad that の近くにd the vista showed cheap shops that were shuttered against the 荒涼とした Sunday, wisps of straw and paper lay in the gutter.

Mrs. Sacret paused and 熟視する／熟考するd her surroundings with 憤慨 that was the more 激烈な／緊急の as she realized that she was not more attractive than her 近隣. A slight woman, thirty years of age, with ordinary features, hazel-colored hair and 注目する，もくろむs and a subdued 耐えるing, her graceful 人物／姿／数字 and feet were hidden under the shabby bombazine of a 未亡人's 嘆く／悼むing. Wrinkled cotton gloves 隠すd her 手渡すs; a 黒人／ボイコット straw bonnet was tied by 黒人／ボイコット 略章s under her chin and a crape 隠す 隠すd her 直面する; she wore a silver brooch from which hung a cross 新たな展開d with a spray of ivy. Her pretty feet were deformed by trodden-over boots, their elastic 味方するs were 明らかにする／漏らすd as she bunched up her long skirts, awkwardly 十分な in the gathers, under her mantle; her 着せる／賦与するs had been made in meek and 辞職するd imitation of the fashions worn by gentlewomen.

Mrs. Sacret had passed a dull day in considering her 未来, a 支配する that she could not hope anyone was 利益／興味d in, besides herself. The 未亡人 of a missionary whose life and death were obscure, who had bequeathed her but a few hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs and the little house before which she now hesitated, she had, since her return to England three months ago, been 捜し出すing a 暮らし with daily 増加するing 切望.

At first she had felt sure that some 使節団 or society 関心d with the spreading of the gospel message or the lot of the industrious poor would have 安全な・保証するd her services as 長官 or manageress, as matron or sister, and she was familiar with many who were ably directing the labors of those hard-working men and women 雇うd in 変えるing heathens abroad, or 救助（する）ing paupers at home. Mrs. Sacret had not only failed to 得る any such 地位，任命する; she had been made to realize the social disadvantages 大（公）使館員ing to Dissent. In Jamaica these had not been obvious; if the Sacrets' humble 使節団 was ignored by the Church of England chaplains, it was also 尊敬（する）・点d by the Nonconformists の中で the sugar planters, and looked up to with awe by the Negroes who transformed all brands of Christianity into melody and color. In London Mrs. Sacret 設立する the dividing line had become a 塀で囲む—"only a Dissenter" was a usual 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 that 解任するd as beneath notice the 信奉者s of a movement that had once overturned the country.

Thus 軍隊d 支援する on the organizations run by sects of her late husband's beliefs, or 近づく them, she had 設立する them poor, 大部分は run by volunteers, and indifferent to her 苦境. Frederick Sacret had not been in any way distinguished from his fellows save by 確かな good looks and attractions discernible only by his wife, and by her forgotten long before his death from yellow fever in a Kingstown hospital.

Nor was she, the daughter of a 医療の man and an Anglican, without a stiff gentility that made her わずかに ungracious even when asking for a 好意, and 地位，任命するs such as she 手配中の，お尋ね者 were, as she soon discovered, 大部分は given as 好意s.

Still pausing in the empty street, her 状況／情勢 直面するd her once more in the inner 議会 of her mind where her alarmed wits sat in 会議.

Her parents had died when she, an only child, was a girl. Such 親族s as she had were remote strangers; she was sure they would repudiate her and her misfortunes. An 試みる／企てる to approach them on her marriage had led to rebuffs. Her father, who had never been more than the least popular doctor at Ball's Pond, Islington, was supposed by his family to have lowered his class, that of small Kent squires, by marrying the daughter of a 地元の haberdasher, and Olivia, his child, had certainly descended again, by choosing a Dissenter and a missionary for her husband. The friends she had made at the Clapham School where she had been educated through the exertions and privations of her parents were scattered. She was never noticed either by mistresses or scholars and she had been at the select 設立 only a year, for when her father died it was no longer possible to 支払う／賃金 the 料金s.

Ray Milland and Ann Todd in "So Evil My Love"

One girl had been 肉親，親類d, generous, even a little loving to the 厳格な，質素な, plain and poor Olivia Gladwin, the pretty creature who had been Susan Freeman, then Susan Dasent, and who was now Susan Rue. Mrs. Sacret thought of Susan as she walked slowly along Minton Street toward 淡褐色 High Street. She had last seen her former schoolfellow three years ago, when she, the amiable Susan, had been herself a 未亡人, the 豊富な Mrs. Dasent; then Olivia Sacret had sought her out and the two women had been very friendly. The episode stood out 明確に in Mrs. Sacret's memory, as an exciting space of time, filled with a variety of 利益／興味ing events, a short interlude in a monotonous life, for the Sacrets had gone to Jamaica a few months after the 復活 of the schoolgirl intimacy. Their correspondence, at first expansive, had soon 中止するd, for Susan Dasent could not 令状 more than a scrawl, as Mrs. Sacret, who had so often done her lessons for her at the Clapham School, 井戸／弁護士席 knew, and was too lazy to continue even to send scrawls to the woman, who, in every sense of the word, had left her world.

A printed card with a penciled 迎える／歓迎するing had 知らせるd Mrs. Sacret of Susan's second marriage, a year ago. The 演説（する）／住所 was that of a 雇うd home at Clapham. She had not replied and when she had returned to London she had not known where Susan lived; they had no ありふれた friend nor 知識, the circles in which they moved did not touch anywhere. Though by birth at least equal, for Susan's father was a city tea merchant, and Dr. Gladwin would have considered him his inferior, the delicate intricacies of London society, as finely balanced as a 正確な work of art, はっきりと divided the dissenting missionary's 未亡人 from the wife of the 繁栄する and 井戸／弁護士席-placed 銀行業者, ツバメ Rue.

Mrs. Sacret, however, on this dull Sunday afternoon, was 解決するd to 試みる／企てる the 再開 of the lost friendship. She used that word, 堅固に, in her mind; yes, she 断言するd, it had been friendship between herself and Susan, who had been so lucky with her 相続するd fortune and her two opulent marriages. Susan who had always been so indulged and flattered, not only because of her wealth, but because she was pretty, 平易な and soft, good natured, with charming flattering manners. Even if Susan Rue had been in the place of Olivia Sacret, she would have done much better for herself than the missionary's 未亡人 could do. She was so gentle, affectionate and helpless that someone would have been sure to 救助（する） her from any 苦しめる, while no one ever felt much compassion for Olivia Sacret, with her 独立した・無所属 空気／公表する and the hint of irony in her intelligent ちらりと見ること.

The lonely woman turned into High Street, then proceeded along it to the 権利; she had some way to walk; the omnibuses were infrequent and she 避けるd them whenever possible, as an affront to her gentility. She felt some satisfaction in her health. She had always been strong, the 気候 of Jamaica had not 影響する／感情d her native vigor, and she was 井戸／弁護士席 able to 請け負う the two miles or so to her 目的地, which was the Old Priory, Tintern Road, Clapham. Yesterday she had seen this 演説（する）／住所 in the Morning 地位，任命する that she had 購入（する）d ーするために read the column 長，率いるd SITUATIONS VACANT.

Nothing had been on 申し込む／申し出 that she did not 縮む from 適用するing for, and it had been with a listless sigh that she had turned over the 定期刊行物 and 星／主役にするd absently at COURT AND SOCIETY. There she had seen the 告示 of the return of Mr. and Mrs. ツバメ Rue from Florence to their new house in Clapham. So Susan, after hotels and 雇うd homes, had now "a place of her own."

At first Mrs. Sacret, lonely in her tiny parlor, had smiled sarcastically. Susan was 存在 ostentatious, she did not come of a class that considered its movements of public 利益／興味, nor was her 現在の position, solid as it was, 類似の to the least of those remotely connected with the 法廷，裁判所. She had wasted her guineas to 支払う／賃金 for this insertion at the 底（に届く） of a gazette to which her husband's wealth just permitted her an 入り口.

Then another thought had entered the keen brain of Mrs. Sacret and she had 星／主役にするd at the print as if something 極端に useful had been put into her 手渡す, a purse of gold, a 武器 of 弁護 and 強襲，強姦, or a rope with which to 運ぶ／漁獲高 herself from the misfortunes that 脅すd to suck her 負かす／撃墜する from her 不安定な 慰安 and respectability. Here was the 演説（する）／住所 of a friend, she 強調するd the word, who would, in many ways, help her, にもかかわらず the difference in their positions and the length of time since they had met. She was proud with the pride that is the only possible 弁護 against the humiliations （打撃，刑罰などを）与えるd on genteel poverty, with the pride nourished jealously by the woman, chaste as maid, wife and 未亡人, in a society where this virtue is no パスポート to 緩和する or 楽しみ, with the pride of the Christian missionary who has been in spiritual 支配 over the heathen, and proud with the 積極的な pride of a Dissenter, 内密に ashamed of having left the 階級s of a church that the Nonconformists might consider in serious, even damnable, error, but that English society held in unshakeable esteem.

Moreover, she believed in God, she knew herself for a righteous, self-sacrificing woman who 願望（する）d nothing from life save a decent position where she could 持続する her genteel pretensions and expend her energies in good 作品. The little house in Minton Street, and a daily maidservant, some place of consideration の中で her fellows and she believed she would be contented. The poverty of her childhood, her humble marriage, a dread of 沈むing to menial labor, unavowed 恐れるs of loneliness and the passive 軽蔑（する） or apathy of strangers who ちらりと見ることd at her once and never again, all made her 用心深い, unambitious, anxious for 安全.

Three months ago she had not 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know Susan's 演説（する）／住所; she had even hoped that chance would not bring them together, their characters and fortunes were so ill-adjusted. Mrs. Sacret knew that she herself was intelligent, 井戸／弁護士席 知らせるd, industrious and resolute, while Susan was stupid, ignorant, idle and weak. Even their 指名するs jarred on their circumstances; the ambitious haberdasher's daughter who had married above her class had christened her child the romantic Olivia, from the ヘロインs of an old play and an old novel, while the 豊富な, prosaic parents of Susan had chosen the unpretentious 指名する of an 平等に 豊富な aunt who had been godmother to their heiress.

Mrs. Sacret had 説得するd herself that she no longer wished to have any 関心 in the frivolous useless 存在 of Susan Rue. She had nearly destroyed the packet of foolish letters her friend had written to her during that 簡潔な／要約する return of their school days' intimacy, three years ago, when Susan had been so excited over her own 事件／事情／状勢s and so eager to confide in Olivia, who had been her stay and 慰安 at 行方不明になる Mitchell's 設立 for the Daughters of Gentlemen.

But now, the withering of her hopes, the 圧力 of her loneliness, the curiosity and envy engendered by 独房監禁 brooding, overcame her pride, 構内／化合物d of such 変化させるing emotions, and she walked 刻々と toward the Old Priory, Clapham.

She was not sure that she wished to 会合，会う Susan, to 危険 finding her の中で smart, 流行の／上流の friends, but to look at the Rues' house, to learn the 手段 of their affluence—she considered that 価値（がある） while. At the least it made a point to the empty Sunday afternoon, it would be an excuse for not …に出席するing the chapel in Gervase Square for the evening service.—"I went to see an old friend"—No one would 行方不明になる her at that comfortable 集会, for she always kept herself apart, 明白に superior to her company. As she 刻々と walked along High Street, between the shuttered shops, she thought of the gray chapel with distaste; if the Dissenters did not soon find work for her, she would return to the Church. An Evangelical clergyman would 受託する her without much demur. She had been brought up in those 正統派の tenets, therefore it had been very 平易な to visit the Ball's Pond Chapel now and then when the preacher was of a particular repute, and there she had met Frederick Sacret. She liked his 指名する, one letter altered and it would be "Secret"; life was only tolerable because of secrets hidden within her mind, guarded, seldom considered, never 明らかにする／漏らすd.

She crossed the wide river by the ponderous modern 橋（渡しをする）. A 微風 blowing from the left, from the sea, disarranged her clumsy 衣料品s, the turned and アイロンをかけるd 略章s on her bonnet; her 嘆く／悼むing looked rusty in the pale light. She felt 不快 from the 勝利，勝つd and from 存在 一時停止するd above the flowing water, alone and beaten upon by the 冷淡な 空気／公表する, but neither the mud flats behind her, reaching to terraces before straight brick houses, nor the leafless trees and featureless huts of the market gardens on the shore before her, depressed her. The Thames and the prospects of gray river, gray shores blank of human 存在s, and blurred by a blister-colored もや, were not 暗い／優うつな to the woman who carried her mood with her, and who was self-中心d enough to have 設立する the smooth 色合いs, vivid sun and soft 空気／公表するs of Jamaica 効果のない／無能な because she was unhappy.

She reached the さらに先に shore, skirted the vegetable frontages showing cabbage stalks and untidy chicken runs and took her way along a poor street that led into a better 近隣, then on to a small open ありふれた 一連の会議、交渉／完成する which, at gracious intervals, were large 郊外の mansions standing in gardens overcrowded with shrubs and trees. The scene 似ているd a village green transformed by the （一定の）期間 of a vulgar 魔法. Where the noble Norman church should have stood was an ostentatious building of Portland 石／投石する, with a 激しい spire, shut off by coarse railings and gate from the road. Where the homely inn with the 古代の 調印する should have stood was a large public house, of 有望な brick and corrugated yellow plaster, with the absurd statue of a 黒人／ボイコット bull on the parapet above the porch. Instead of cottages with flowers in 前線 and orchards behind, there were these solid 住居s, in 変化させるing styles of hybrid architecture, with turrets, towers, 温室s, balconies so 関係のない as to appear like the edifices put together at 無作為の by an impatient child from a medley of 天然のまま models. These ugly mansions, as yet unstained by the すす that （判決などを）下すd dingy the church and the public house, were 前線d by stiff 二塁打 運動s, 激しい 二塁打 gates, dark foreign trees and ponderous shrubs with dark, dirt-laden foliage, and 支援するd by the empty sky. Instead of the homely and cheerful 集会 of the village green, carriages were driven slowly around and around by stout and ruddy coachmen …を伴ってd by silent grooms. The immobility of these people, who, in their parts as servants, had almost 中止するd to 存在する as human 存在s, the 安定した sound of the slow moving horses and wheels, 追加するd to the somber ugliness of the scene that meant nothing save that money, without taste or tradition to 支配（する）／統制する it, had been used lavishly for 慰安, 高級な and 陳列する，発揮する.

Mrs. Sacret understood perfectly what she saw. It was Sunday and these cosy folk were visiting one another for tea; the carriages had come from another part of Clapham, or from another 郊外. These mansions were not the most expensive in the 近隣, さらに先に on there would he others, where the inhabitants would not have to 耐える the old 設立するd if recently rebuilt public house, people who could afford two menservants. Her shrewd ちらりと見ること appraised the carriages; they belonged, she was sure, to families even more 豊富な than those that surrounded this little ありふれた.

She went on slowly, beginning to feel 疲労，（軍の）雑役; the liveried servants ignored her as she ignored them, though she was aware of the curiosity in their sharp 注目する，もくろむs, and they were aware that she was a stranger and out of place in this select 近隣. She wished to ask the way to Tintern Road, but it did not even occur to her that she could question these menservants; she went on as if they did not 存在する, knowing they were 星／主役にするing after her, 審理，公聴会 the sound of slow wheels and hoofs on the placid 空気／公表する. She passed the large ありふれた, crossing a corner of the 厳しい, 都市の grass; the faded 黒人／ボイコット of her 着せる／賦与するs blended nicely with the 中立の 色合いs of her background, English half トンs, smudged with a still もや, as a 絵 is smudged with varnish. She was 独房監禁 and 疲れた／うんざりした, conscious that she was on strange ground. Never had she lived in such a luxurious 近隣 as this, nor had any 関係 with the people who 住むd it. Once she had visited Susan, when they were girls, but the Freemans' house at Wandsworth had not been as 課すing as these houses before her now, though far too 課すing for her 緩和する of mind; she had never repeated the experience though Susan's parents had been kindly.

She knew that if she ever did reside in such a 豊富な 郊外 as this, it would be as a 扶養家族, a companion, since she had not the 資格s for the 地位，任命する of governess, or as a housekeeper, very little more considered than the rigid servants on the carriage boxes she had just passed. She decided that she would not call on Susan. They were 完全に out of touch, only 当惑 could result to both of them from her 予期しない and almost certainly inopportune visit. Better, she thought, to go 支援する, cross the river and return to the mean decorum of Minton Street where, at least, she felt equal to her surroundings. But as she hesitated on the turn of her steps, she noticed a high 塀で囲む, at 権利 angles to the ありふれた, on which was painted in bold 黒人／ボイコット letters, TINTERN ROAD, very plain for her to see.

It would be poor spirited, she 反映するd, to return without even looking at Susan's house, so she walked along the empty road that was 国境d by the stout 塀で囲むs that 隠すd mansions and gardens of grandiose 割合s. At generous intervals these were broken by gates 主要な to 削減する gravel 運動s, 側面に位置するd by laurel, privet and lilac 国境s. On the second of these gates was painted, also plain for her to see, THE OLD PRIORY.

Mrs. Sacret could 観察する the house when she peered between the アイロンをかける uprights of the gate, though it stood 井戸／弁護士席 支援する and was partly 隠すd by laburnum and acacia trees that grew in clusters behind the 国境 of the 運動. It was a building in the style of the Gothic 復活, feebly copied, with castellated roof below the chimney マリファナs, a tower with pinnacles, arched hooded windows, a Norman porch and wide steps with plaster dogs sitting at attention on the balusters. Mrs. Sacret could see, between the dirty boughs, a glitter of 向こうずねing glass, the 形態／調整 of outbuildings, a 温室 and stables.

"A 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of money," she muttered; then she opened the gates 慎重に, ーするつもりであるing no more than a closer 査察 of Susan's home, and her shabby dark 人物／姿／数字, 暗い／優うつな with the crape-辛勝する／優位d mantle and skirt, the 黒人／ボイコット bonnet, the 未亡人's 隠す, approached the house, 刻々と, with delicate tread.

Mrs. Sacret was observant and 井戸／弁護士席 知らせるd within her 限られた／立憲的な 範囲. She had natural taste, never yet 表明するd, and an ironic cast of mind, so she smiled at the ostentatious house before her, that she knew to be a sham in all the pretensions it 暗示するd.

There had never been a monastic 設立 here; the 指名する had been given ばく然と, because of the supposed character of the architecture that had probably been chosen because of the 指名する of the road by someone who could 解任する the 廃虚s of Tintern, but not that it was an abbey.

Susan, thought Mrs. Sacret; it was built for her, it is やめる new—or she 改名するd it.

And this reflection on Susan's clumsy stupidity 強化するd Mrs. Sacret's self-信用／信任; she asked herself why she should be afraid of a foolish woman, however 豊富な. The knowledge that she could have used money to better 目的 than Susan had used it in this ugly place, consoled her for her poverty, her 疲労，（軍の）雑役, and her 薄暗い prospects.

The place was truly ugly, even the shrubs and trees were clipped, overcrowded or 不正に 工場／植物d, so that they seemed unreal, and they were an unnatural hue from dust; the もや hung in dark 国／地域d 減少（する）s from the 厳しい leaves of the mottled laurels, the grass 国境 was without freshness. The house, of large ungainly 割合s, was ill 始める，決める, the stucco painted a 淡褐色 yellow incongruous with the turreting, the Gothic 意向, the chimney stacks, belching slow-rising smoke, were absurd, the monkey puzzle trees behind, crooked and 新たな展開d, the Venetian blinds at the windows another 証拠 of 欠如（する） of taste. Mrs. Sacret could reasonably smile. Her own mean home was more seemly and pleasing for it was without affectation. But the Old Priory 陳列する，発揮するd impressive 調印するs of wealth that Mrs. Sacret quickly 公式文書，認めるd; it was as neat as it was grandiose and the outbuildings, the glittering panes of the ドームd 温室, the gardener's cottage in a rustic design, the speckless 運動 and steps, the 向こうずねing windows, all showed the 患者 care of many humble 手渡すs.

"I might 同様に see Susan," 反映するd Mrs. Sacret and rang the アイロンをかける chain bell that hung inside the porch. An 年輩の maid in a street gray poplin uniform opened the door すぐに and 星／主役にするd with surprise at the dark 人物／姿／数字 of the 未亡人 smiling through the meshes of her crape 隠す.

"Can I see Mrs. Rue? Will you please tell her that a friend, Mrs. Sacret, has called—has come a long way to visit her."

The lady was gratified to 観察する that her genteel manner served her; the maid, though startled, asked her into the hall, and went in search of her mistress.

"So Susan is at home—is it lucky or unlucky that we shall 会合，会う?"

Mrs. Sacret ちらりと見ることd about her; the 床に打ち倒す was tiled, the staircase marble, a window at the 支援する filled with colored glass, blue, crimson and yellow, the 塀で囲むs were 支持を得ようと努めるd パネル盤d and a large ornate アイロンをかける lamp hung from the 天井. It was very ugly, it was also very 高くつく／犠牲の大きい and 井戸／弁護士席 kept. Mrs. Rue would see Mrs. Sacret and the two friends met in the large room at the 支援する of the house that gave の上に the garden; a room luxurious, comfortable, cheerful. There was a grand pianoforte, a brilliant 解雇する／砲火／射撃, and マリファナs of 軍隊d flowers. The furniture was handsome, the 議長，司会を務めるs were softly cushioned, the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs 陳列する，発揮するd gold and silver trifles, the pearl-色合いd wallpaper 始める，決める off water colors of romantic scenery in wide 開始するs and gilt でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるs. Everything that Mrs. Sacret had ever associated with 緩和する and 高級な, if not with elegance and good taste, was 現在の in Susan's surroundings, while she herself was dressed in a rose-hued taffeta, ruffled with blond lace, that was a sharp contrast indeed to the 未亡人's dowdy 黒人／ボイコット 衣料品s.

Susan was effusive, in the charming, breathless and rather foolish manner that Mrs. Sacret remembered so 井戸／弁護士席. She ordered tea and 圧力（をかける）d her friend with quick questions, the most often repeated of which was—"Where have you been? Why have you not written? I did not know where you were!"

"How should you," replied Mrs. Sacret. "My 演説（する）／住所 is not ever in the Morning 地位，任命する, that was where I saw yours."

"We must have some sherry!" cried Mrs. Rue, starting up, and with quick pretty movements she had soon brought out a 罰金 削減（する） glass decanter and 激しい, glittering glasses from a Sheraton 閣僚 and 注ぐd out the tawny-colored ワイン, Bristol milk, nearly as strong as an old port.

"Oh, I don't take it," said Mrs. Sacret, "and not before tea."

"Do drink it, I 推定する／予想する you have come a long way."

"Yes, indeed, and not in a carriage either. I live in my little house in Minton Street that you may remember."

"Of course I remember it." Mrs. Rue drank her sherry then 注ぐd herself another glassful. "I did not know you were in London—when you wrote to me from Jamaica, after your—I mean—" She was 混乱させるd, sighed and pulled out her handkerchief. "Oh, dear, you will have thought me so heartless; you wrote of your sad loss and I did answer, but you replied that your 計画（する）s were unsettled and I never wrote again; do 許す me."

"My 計画（する）s were unsettled," agreed Mrs. Sacret gently. "And I did not 推定する／予想する you to 令状, nor any explanations. Indeed, I hardly 推定する／予想するd to see you again, Susan."

"Oh, why ever not!" exclaimed Mrs. Rue nervously.

"Our positions are so different. I （機の）カム to London to look for work—and I 港／避難所't 設立する any. It was only a chance made me come here, just the chance of seeing your 演説（する）／住所 yesterday."

Mrs. Rue had drunk her second glass of sherry, she was 紅潮／摘発するd and restless. Mrs. Sacret thought she had been sleeping by the 有望な 解雇する／砲火／射撃, sunk in the 平易な 議長，司会を務める, in the room scented with the hothouse flowers, when her 予期しない 訪問者 had been 発表するd.

"I'm afraid I startled you, Susan, coming like this—in my 嘆く／悼むing. I am so sorry. I should have written; it was just an impulse. I really only ーするつもりであるd to look at your house and go away again; then, somehow, I thought I would like to see you. I daresay that was ill advised." Mrs. Sacret sighed, her pleasant 発言する／表明する fell to a whisper. "I've been lonely and poor, and idle, for awhile now, and living so one gets things out of 割合."

"But, of course, I want to see you. I think of you so often," 抗議するd Mrs. Rue. "Oh, here comes the tea. Are you sure that you won't have a glass of ワイン first? It is so refreshing."

"No, just the tea, thank you, Susan, just that and a little talk about the past."

She ちらりと見ることd at the handsome tea equipage with the 必然的な curiosity of the poor for the 任命s of the rich—激しい silver, Worcester 磁器, extravagant dainties, 軍隊d peaches and a pineapple were arranged on Brussels lace.

"We have pineries," chattered Mrs. Rue quickly fidgeting with cups and plates. "ツバメ is 利益／興味d in seeing what we can grow. Do you like the house? ツバメ bought it last year—I altered the 指名する to the Old Priory—because of Tintern Road."

"So I supposed. I know your romantic taste, Susan. No, not any cream, I am not used to rich food; indeed I live very plainly."

"Oh, yes, on 原則—as a Christian missionary."

"And because I cannot afford anything but the cheapest fare."

As she ate her sponge finger and sipped her 中国 tea she regarded Susan 批判的に. In her soft pink dress the pretty plump young woman was much like a rose herself, a 緩和するd summer rose, soft, warm, luxuriant; she glowed, with her sanguine complexion, her 有望な brown hair, her blue-gray 注目する，もくろむs, her white teeth, into one radiance that slipped into the pearls around her throat and the diamond bracelets at her wrists. Everything about her was expensive and Mrs. Sacret was surprised that she should be sitting alone on this Sunday afternoon; surely she had any number of friends; but questioned, Susan Rue replied, no, she was not 推定する／予想するing anyone, and ツバメ was away, spending the Sunday with his mother at Blackheath. "And what was the little talk about the past you 手配中の，お尋ね者, Olivia?"

"Oh, our school days and then, three years ago, when you used to come to Minton Street, after Captain Dasent's death."

"Yes, you were very 肉親，親類d to me then, Olivia; of course I shall never forget it. I don't know what you thought of me, I mean, I was so foolish, feather 長，率いるd, as you used to say, and you were such a 慰安, 許すing me to 令状 to you and 注ぐ out all my troubles."

"They are over," smiled Mrs. Sacret. "I 港／避難所't come to remind you of them. I'd forgotten them until I （機の）カム upon some letters of yours in an old box."

"Some letters of 地雷! I suppose you 燃やすd them—as rubbish?"

"No, I didn't. I can't think why. I suppose I felt a little tenderly about them—about the days when we were such intimate friends."

"It doesn't 事柄—they are 安全な with you."

"Why, Susan, you speak as if there was mischief in your letters—or 害（を与える）. You know if there had been I should never have been your confidante." Mrs. Sacret smiled charmingly. "And now you are so happy—"

"I don't suppose that you 認可する of second marriages," interrupted Susan Rue uneasily. "But I was very young—and sad—and not fit to manage my 商売／仕事, and in a 目だつ position—a 未亡人 with money.

"Pray don't explain to me, dear," murmured Mrs. Sacret. "Of course you were 権利 to do as your heart 企て，努力，提案 you—"

"My heart," muttered Mrs. Rue, 星／主役にするing at her untouched cup of tea.

"And you are lucky, also. Two rich husbands—no, I don't mean that in a vulgar sense, but you were just born to be petted and a little pampered, Susan, and to have someone to look after you. I am very glad, indeed, to see you so handsomely 設立するd."

Susan Rue sighed. She seemed much 乱すd by this sudden 外見 of a 人物／姿／数字 from the past, and her facile, impulsive nature was without 弁護s against the serene 技術 with which Olivia Sacret 調査（する）d into her simple 事件／事情／状勢s. After a その上の short conversation the missionary's 未亡人 learned that her rich, lovely and indulged young friend was as lonely as she was herself, lonely and a little 脅すd. Her second marriage was not very successful. ツバメ was jealous, censorious and mean—yes, that was it, he was mean; though she had two fortunes to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of, he watched all her 支出s and begrudged her the 慰安s to which she was する権利を与えるd. Why, as Olivia must have noticed, she had not even menservants, and then he disliked her going about, or entertaining, and she led a very 独房監禁 life. ツバメ was always at his office, or with his mother, or worrying about his health. Why, when they were in Florence, where she had 推定する／予想するd to be gay, they had hardly left their 雇うd 郊外住宅 and met no one. It was only on his glasshouses that ツバメ was 用意が出来ている to spend money, on the pineries, the 温室s. And she, Susan, was tired of the tasteless 軍隊d fruit, the pallid 軍隊d flowers and the delicate ferns over which ツバメ fussed so continually—as if they were human. Olivia Sacret listened to this ingenuous 自白 with a sense of 力／強力にする; at a step she had 回復するd her old ascendancy over this weak nature. Susan felt an obvious 救済 in 注ぐing out her frivolous, futile （民事の）告訴s to this girlhood's friend, and Olivia slid easily into her old position of confidante.

"You should have waited, dear," she said sympathetically. "And married Sir John Curle. I saw that his wife is still—an 無効の."

At this Susan showed a startling agitation.

"Oh, please, Olivia! Don't ever について言及する that 指名する, now please don't. ツバメ is so jealous."

"What does he know about it? That 指名する?"

Susan began suddenly to weep. "We were seen together—and talked of—a little—you know—he was married, though Lady Curle had been separated from him so long—and was weak-minded, and someone, of course—I think it was his mother—told him—and he is always casting it up at me."

"Casting what up?"

Susan sobbed speechlessly.

"Why, I never （機の）カム here, after all this time, to 苦しめる you," cried Mrs. Sacret rising. "I never thought—I supposed you were happy—there now, do 乾燥した，日照りの your 注目する，もくろむs, before the maid comes, or what will she think I have done to you?"

Susan made a childish 成果／努力 at 支配（する）／統制する.

"I never see him, now, never," she murmured. "It is all past—and I can 信用 him—"

"Of course. I don't see why you 乱す yourself. I'm sorry I について言及するd the letters—"

"The letters, please, please, 燃やす them, Olivia."

"Certainly, if you wish. Only—"

"I know what you want to say. I せねばならない have thought of it before—to have looked you up—to have done something for you."

"What do you mean, dear?" asked Mrs. Sacret softly, bending over the voluptuous 人物／姿／数字 of her friend in the soft scented silks and laces. Susan Rue ちらりと見ることd up with wet, 脅すd 注目する，もくろむs.

"You said you had not 設立する a 地位，任命する—and that you were poor."

"Yes—hut I know what to do."

Susan shrank from the serene gray 注目する，もくろむs whose gaze was 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on her so 刻々と. "Of course," she whispered. "I understand. Will you come and live with me? I need a companion."

"I did not think of that position," replied Mrs. Sacret, 隠すing her 激しい surprise, "in anyone's house."

"Oh, I mean as a friend—as if you were a sister, everything as I have it—and—and—pocket money."

"Pocket money?" repeated Mrs. Sacret.

"What do you want?" asked Susan Rue wildly. "I can only give you half of what I have myself—by pocket money I meant a salary—say two hundred a year—and 現在のs—and nothing for you to do."

"How extravagantly you talk," said Mrs. Sacret, 身を引くing across the hearth. "I never （機の）カム here to ask for anything."

"I know why you （機の）カム. I've often 推定する／予想するd you'd come. But I thought you were in the West Indies—you were always a good friend to me," 追加するd Susan rising. "And I have no one," she dabbed her 注目する，もくろむs, "to talk to—and I'm sure I'm not 申し込む／申し出ing you too much. I'm very tiresome to live with."

The maid entered to fetch the tea equipage and Mrs. Sacret skillfully turned the conversation to an 平易な commonplace, under cover of which she took her leave, kissing Susan's hot cheek kindly and 約束ing "to think over" what had been said and to "令状 soon."

ｧ 2

The missionary's 未亡人 設立する her little house mean and even 荒涼とした after the 高級な and 慰安 of the Old Priory. It was 平易な to smile at Susan's ignorance and poor taste, but the 内部の of her pretentious dwelling was, Olivia Sacret considered, 望ましい. She had not before noticed how agreeable money could make life. When she had last seen Susan she had herself been 吸収するd in her own 事件／事情／状勢s, her marriage and her work; both had then seemed exciting, now, in retrospect, dull. She noticed the 草案s under the ill-fitting doors, the rubbed drugget, the sagging 議長，司会を務めるs. She had never tried to make her home pleasant, believing ばく然と, that to do so would be frivolous, even wrong. She sat long beside her scanty 解雇する／砲火／射撃, in the light of the oil lamp with the opal globe, thinking of Susan, and then, with a start, of God. She should pray for Susan, so worldly and so selfish, and she was surprised that she had forgotten to advise her friend to pray, to question her on her 宗教的な 義務s that she had never faithfully 実行するd. Mrs. Sacret could not understand how it happened that she had so lost, not only her professional manner but her professional 態度 of mind, when with Susan. Usually she was suavely ready to 申し込む／申し出 spiritual なぐさみ to the 苦しめるd. She supposed it had really been astonishment that had so shaken her out of her mental 決まりきった仕事. Astonishment at Susan's 混乱, her 自白 of an unsatisfactory marriage, her 狼狽 over the letters, and her 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の 申し込む／申し出 to Olivia—an 申し込む／申し出 beyond even Susan's 無謀な generous nature to make.

"She was 脅すd." The three words almost formed themselves on Mrs. Sacret's pretty lips; a 動かす of impatience made her rise and, taking the lamp, go into the 地階 kitchen. She 用意が出来ている herself a tidy supper of 冷淡な ham and cocoa, while she pondered: 脅すd of what?—and ate it, sitting at the scrubbed （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and 星／主役にするing at the 冷淡な 黒人／ボイコット-leaded grate.

The letters. So she thought of them now, as if they were the only letters in the world. Susan had wildly hoped that they were "安全な," had asked that they might be destroyed, but Olivia Sacret remembered them as 害のない, ill-written chatter, silly accounts of her flirtations with Sir John Curle, and her 悔いるs as to his hopeless marriage. Mr. Sacret had not liked Susan's 行為, he had said she was 存在 "talked about," though she was always prudently chaperoned by 親族s or paid companions, and had wished his wife to discountenance the lovely 未亡人. But Mrs. Sacret had continued to receive the 信用／信任 of her friend and to 許す her to visit the house in Minton Street, not only out of sympathy with one who was so gentle and 肉親，親類d, but because, 内密に, she liked the romance—there was no other word—that Susan's unfortunate love 事件／事情／状勢 供給するd. Neither could she see anything wrong in the 状況／情勢. Susan had behaved very 井戸／弁護士席; her トン had been, from the first, one of renunciation. She had visited Lady Curle in her sad 退却／保養地, tried to make friends with her, and had, together with Olivia, prayed for her 回復 to normal health. Nor was Sir John いっそう少なく noble; his attachment to Susan, though sudden and violent, had never, she had 約束d Olivia, been more than whispered. And soon after the Sacrets had gone to Jamaica, he had left England. Nothing could have been more proper, though Olivia had considered the second marriage 残念な. Susan should have remained a 未亡人, but she was so weak!

Susan was so weak. Mrs. Sacret shivered. The kitchen was 冷淡な. It was stupid to be wasting the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 in the parlor; she left her 国／地域d dishes on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, took up her lamp again and 上がるd the short 法外な flight of mean stairs; in the 狭くする passage she paused. The letters were in her bedroom, in the 底（に届く） of a hair trunk; she 手配中の，お尋ね者 to read them again for she had forgotten all of them save their general 傾向. She had never even read them carefully, as she had never listened carefully to Susan's 噴出するing talk. But it would be mean to read the letters with a curious, 調査するing 注目する，もくろむ. They must be 燃やすd, as Susan wished, and 燃やすd unread, that would be the honorable 活動／戦闘.

Olivia sat again between the lamp and the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 that she mended with a frugal 手渡す. Thoughts had been 誘発するd in her that were not easily dispelled. Surmises and questions raised not lightly parried or answered.

She again forgot God and the 祈りs she should have put up for Susan, so unhappy and bewildered.

The missionary's 未亡人 drooped in her hard 議長，司会を務める, her graceful 団体／死体 taking on lines of unconscious elegance. She considered the sharp difference between her 運命／宿命 and that of Susan's. For her, next to nothing, and soon, nothing at all, but the position of an upper servant, scarcely higher than that of the 甚だしい／１２ダース, servile men she had seen today behind the fat horses, lazing away the barren Sunday afternoon. For Susan, everything that most women 願望（する）d. But Susan was not happy. An 激しい curiosity stirred in Olivia Sacret. She tried to puzzle out the 推論する／理由 for the other woman's trouble. Susan had always been gay and careless, her only grief had been her hopeless affection for Sir John Curie, but surely that had never been very 深い, or she would not so soon have married ツバメ Rue? Olivia had 推定する／予想するd to find Susan, in her usual shallow way, cheerfully content and the 中心 of admiring friends. But she had been alone. And unhappy. I should like to see ツバメ Rue, 反映するd Olivia, but checked herself with a 誤った piety, horn of long habit. But I must not be 調査するing, I must be very sorry for Susan and try to help her. Tonight I shall pray for her, and tomorrow I shall 燃やす the letters and 令状 to Susan to tell her that I have done so.

She began to compose the 宣告，判決s, wise, 肉親，親類d and 井戸／弁護士席 turned, that she would send her friend. She would 申し込む／申し出 her excellent advice about "turning to God," and she would 結論する by 示唆するing that they had better not 会合，会う again, as their lives were so different. The room darkened about her; she startled to find the lamp going out with a 汚い smell of paraffin oil. She had forgotten to fill it. She had neglected her house ーするために 請け負う that useless walk to Clapham. Olivia Sacret had been trained to feel 有罪の on the least excuse and "to take the 非難する" in the part of 永久の scapegoat for any daily misadventure. She had always considered that this 態度 gave her an 空気／公表する of becoming meekness, until her husband, in the irritable トンs of an 無効の, had once told her that her ready 仮定／引き受けること of 犯罪 covered a secret and unshaken self-satisfaction. Then she had lost her zest for this form of abnegation, but the habit remained. Now she began to think of her afternoon's adventure as not only senseless but sinful.

She turned out the lamp, lit a candle and went upstairs to her chilly bedroom, with the white dimity curtains, white honeycomb quilt on the 狭くする bed, the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd texts on the cheaply papered 塀で囲むs, the yellow varnished furniture. She looked at once toward the trunk that 含む／封じ込めるd all her intimate 所有／入手s; tomorrow she would 燃やす the letters unread. Again she dwelt on the lines that would 放棄する this unsuitable, perhaps dangerous, friendship. Yes, perhaps dangerous, for it might 誘発する in her feelings of envy, of 悔いる, a sense of 力／強力にする.

"Our lives are so different," she had 解決するd to 令状 to Susan, but as she put out her candle and shuddered into the 冷淡な bed, her thought was—but Susan 申し込む／申し出d to 株 her life with me, and that thought remained with her throughout a sleepless night.

ｧ 3

The morning after brought Mrs. Sacret a distasteful 地位，任命する, a 拒絶 to consider her 使用／適用 for the secretaryship of a tract society, small 法案s from small tradespeople, a letter from the doctor who had …に出席するd her husband in Jamaica, "enclosing my account, 苦しめるd to send it, but I am not a rich man."

Nor am I a rich woman, thought Mrs. Sacret. This old 負債 nagged her; she would, now and then, 支払う／賃金 a few 続けざまに猛撃するs off, but it still remained, a 激しい sum for her poor means. The little daily maid was sullen, the mood in which she usually returned to work on Monday. Mrs. Sacret 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd her of 存在 on the point of "giving notice." The missionary's 未亡人 was acutely aware that she was not popular as a mistress; even incompetent servants could "better themselves" in the houses of rich people. It was not so much the low 行う that 困らすd as the poverty of the 設立. The 雇うd "helps" loathed having to account for every stick of firewood and pinch of tea; they 軽蔑（する）d empty cupboards and all the 転換s of genteel penury. "I can manage by myself, of course," Mrs. Sacret told herself as she had told herself before. But she never did so manage, for long. Not only did she 内密に dislike 家事, she dreaded the loneliness. Another woman who brought in some neighborly gossip was at least some company, someone to talk to, if only in a トン of distant patronage and reproof.

Mrs. Sacret put 負かす／撃墜する her irritating correspondence and rose.

"That is what I have come to—someone to talk to—I really am without friends, or even 知識s." She was 脅すd, but 追加するd resolutely, "It is the Lord's will." She fetched Susan's letters; they lay friendship for Susan and for no other possible 推論する／理由, Mrs. Sacret was sure of that. She took them downstairs and the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 was 燃やすing brightly in the high 狭くする grate; it would have been simple to have laid them on 最高の，を越す of the glowing coals but she hesitated.

Now that this friendship that had meant so much to her, that had been really the most exciting, the brightest episode in her life, was ending, it seemed 厳しい to destroy these letters without ちらりと見ることing at them again and recollecting the warmth and the 楽しみ of those few weeks when she had received Susan's wholehearted 信用／信任. She did not ちらりと見ること at the packed lines of Susan's crooked words, she read them carefully, intently, as she had never read them before, read them by the light of Susan's 恐れる and 苦しめる and extravagant 申し込む／申し出. Then she 倍のd them up carefully and the 血 showed in her 直面する, making her appear younger, more comely.

The letters were 害のない, of course. Perhaps a little あいまいな. Susan 表明するd herself so 貧しく. Some of the 宣告，判決s might mean what Mrs. Sacret until now had never for a second supposed they could mean, and that, of course, they could not mean.

The gilt-辛勝する／優位d sheets were returned to their envelopes and put aside resolutely, as if they had been a 誘惑. Still with that brilliant glow on her cheeks, Mrs. Sacret 選ぶd up the Morning 地位，任命する and tried to read the column under SITUATIONS VACANT. But her ちらりと見ること 逸脱するd from the tedious familiar "wants" that she had never been able to 満足させる. She felt a thrill of panic as the deadly 恐れる touched her that かもしれない she would never be able to qualify even for the more humble 地位，任命するs. She had no impressive housekeeping experience, no talents as a companion, she was not much liked anywhere, had never been needed by anyone. She saw herself 存在 interviewed by a 見込みのある 雇用者 and sent away as "unsuitable," she saw herself entering her 指名する on the 調書をとる／予約するs of a 国内の 機関—資格s? A little amateur sick-nursing, a little 不十分な housekeeping, a Dissenting background, no friends, no "言及／関連s." I shall not come to that, she 解決するd, at once, but what is to 妨げる me—?

She turned over and put 負かす／撃墜する the paper and looked at the letters. She ーするつもりであるd to 燃やす them, but while they 存在するd she felt important, even powerful, and she 願望（する）d to 長引かせる this sensation, even though she knew it was absurd. When the letters were destroyed she would, she was sure, feel unprotected, defenseless, of no consequence to anyone, even Susan. I suppose Susan would give me a 言及／関連, she thought. I could ask her for that, even if we were no longer friends. Mrs. Sacret 星／主役にするd at the 倍のd sheet of newspaper. One word 長，率いるing a paragraph took her 注目する，もくろむ.

ゆすり，恐喝.

She hardly knew what it meant at first, then she knew, 明確に. Taking up the paper she read the 事例／患者.

The 新聞記者／雑誌記者 commented that "this horrible 罪，犯罪 was rarely brought to light because social 廃虚 を待つd the 犠牲者 who, at last, in f his desperation, 控訴，上告d to the 法律, after having been bled of thousands of 続けざまに猛撃するs for years. Many, in this terrible position, preferred 自殺 to （危険などに）さらす."

Mrs. Sacret was fascinated by the prospect of unknown and terrible strata of life 現在のd to her by these 宣告，判決s; for the first time she 星／主役にするd over the 辛勝する／優位 of her own 狭くする world, for the first time realized how 狭くする it was. 罪，犯罪. She never read even the rare and decorous 報告（する）／憶測s of evil in the newspaper she only bought recently because of the SITUATIONS VACANT column. The Dissenting 定期刊行物s and 小冊子s, the instructive and enlightening 調書をとる／予約するs published by Anglican societies filled her time and her mind.

The 報告（する）／憶測d 事例／患者 was 暗い／優うつな and pitiful. A man, in his 青年, had served a short 宣告，判決 for こそどろ. He had 栄えるd under another 指名する, and one who had known him in 刑務所，拘置所 had ゆすり，恐喝d him for half a lifetime. "Commonplace," the 裁判官 had 発言／述べるd, "and of a fiendish cruelty."

Mrs. Sacret 反映するd on that. She was in the 中央 of 罪，犯罪 and cruelty in this 広大な city that she had always considered ーに関して／ーの点でs of her modest, respectable home, the school that was beyond her father's means, the Dissenting chapel 始める，決める, the 豊富な 始める，決める where Susan belonged, Minton Street, and High Street with the dingy shops and dingy people 急いでing or loitering along.

Perhaps some of those passers-by were 犯罪のs. "Commonplace," the 裁判官 had said. People like myself, she thought. I'm commonplace. Perhaps they look as I look.

ゆすり，恐喝.

She had an impulse to thrust the letters into the 中心 of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, between the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s, but was stayed by a sound uncommon in Minton Street, that of a carriage and horses.

It was but a step to the window, and she was soon 星／主役にするing out of it. Susan was without, in an elegant barouche, behind a pair of spruce chestnuts, a footman was coming to the mean door, but his mistress, leaning 今後, saw Olivia and waved to her with an anxious smile. So, there are menservants, if not in the house, 反映するd Mrs. Sacret. No moment to be filling the room with the smell of 燃やすing paper.

She turned and thrust the letters behind the worn 調書をとる／予約するs of piety on the 狭くする shelf by the fireside. She felt excited because Susan had come to see her so soon and with such pomp. I certainly have an 影響（力） over her, and I must use it to her advantage. This reflection covered her real feelings that were 混乱させるd, and unacknowledged, even to herself.

The footman brought a request for Mrs. Sacret to join his lady for a 運動 in the park, but Susan followed him before her friend could answer.

"The dear little room!" she exclaimed, ちらりと見ることing around the parlor nervously. "How 井戸／弁護士席 I remember it and how happy I am to be here!"

She was prettily dressed in a mignonette green silk, with dark red roses in her bonnet, but she looked, to Mrs. Sacret's sharp gaze, tired and agitated.

"You will come for a 運動, won't you, Olivia? There is 日光. Have you considered my 提案?"

Mrs. Sacret felt so keen a sense of 力／強力にする over this eager anxious creature that she could not resist using it.

"I have not had time, Susan. It is such an important 事柄. It would やめる alter my way of life if I were to 受託する. I am not a very young woman." She crept behind the prosy トンs and dreary platitudes of her husband's profession. "I am a 未亡人. Frederick would have wished me to continue his work."

"You are going abroad again, as a missionary! You did not tell me that!"

Mrs. Sacret was 悩ますd at this interruption, given in a 公式文書，認める of 救済.

"Really, Susan, you need not be so anxious to be rid of me! I shall not cross your path. I was about to 令状 to you 明言する／公表するing this. I did not suppose that you would call so soon."

"Then you won't 受託する my 申し込む／申し出?" asked Susan, stepping nearer, her 有望な 着せる／賦与するs, hair and 直面する making the room seem very dingy.

"I said I had to think it over—really, I still don't understand it—so extravagant—"

"I have the money, my own money that ツバメ can't touch."

"I know." Mrs. Sacret thought dryly of Susan's two fortunes, apart from her 株 in the Rue income. "But your suggestion was so 予期しない. I have not even met your husband. He might not care for a third person in his house."

"Oh, ツバメ often says, when I am moping, or cross, why don't you get a companion!"

Susan was ちらりと見ることing around the room again, her gaze 残り／休憩（する）ing at last on the 解雇する／砲火／射撃.

"Did you 燃やす the letters?"

"I don't understand why you worry so over those letters, Susan. Of course they are 害のない, or I should not have kept them so long. I was reading them again—"

"Reading them again?"

"Of course. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to remind myself of those days when Frederick was alive, and we were all happy."

"I was not happy. I nearly went out of my mind."

Mrs. Sacret 軽蔑（する）d this 自白 of what she did not understand, passion. She considered Susan hysterical.

"You soon married again, dear," she 発言／述べるd softly.

Susan pulled out her handkerchief.

"I do want you to live with me, Olivia. You have always helped me—from our school days—I am やめる wretched—"

"Why?" asked Mrs. Sacret kindly. "You have so much."

Susan gave three 推論する／理由s for discontent; ツバメ was 支配するd by his mother, an 嫌悪すべき old creature who lived at Blackheath; he was always fussing over his health and doctoring himself; and によれば his own morose habits he kept his wife shut away from the life to which she was used.

"How should I help you?" asked Olivia Sacret. "I am not entertaining. I know no one save some dull chapel people. I am outside London society."

"So am I," said Susan. "The Rues are so eccentric they never have moved in any circles—and yet they won't know Father's friends, because he was a merchant, so I am really 孤立するd. No one likes ツバメ very much."

And you, thought Mrs. Sacret, have not the spirit to create your own life.

"I know you are very 宗教的な," continued Susan ingenuously. "And ツバメ would not 許す me to go to chapel. But I could …に出席する church 定期的に."

"Don't you now smiled Mrs. Sacret.

"Oh, I get such 頭痛s! But that is because I am so moped. There is nothing to do all day."

"It is ridiculous." Olivia Sacret spoke more to herself than to the other. "I must not think of such a thing! It is just a whim on your part, Susan, because you are out of humor."

"Indeed, indeed, it is not—but if you don't like my silly frivolous life, I daresay it would be very boring to you—then I won't tease you—if you'll destroy the letters."

"And if I don't destroy the letters?"

"How can you be so cruel!"

"Really, Susan! There is nothing in those letters—anyone might not see."

Susan sighed 深く，強烈に and 新たな展開d her 手渡すs in the pearl-colored gloves. "What do you want?" she whispered.

Mrs. Sacret was startled at her own thrill of 勝利. It was as if Fortune had knocked at her door, with both 手渡すs 十分な of gifts.

"I don't know," she said slowly. "It is rather late for me to be wanting anything."

"Oh, no," replied Susan 熱望して. "You have never had a chance—you were always so 有望な and clever—"

"But poor, Susan, and plain."

"Oh, no! You have such pretty coloring—your 注目する，もくろむs and hair are just the 色合い of a 熟した hazelnut—but those dreary 着せる／賦与するs—Oh, I'm sorry, you are still in 嘆く／悼むing—but I should like to see you handsomely dressed."

"Would you? You are very generous."

"Only 燃やす those silly letters."

"Of course. But—Susan—supposing I was to 燃やす them, here—in this grate—now—would you still want me to live with you and to see me in 罰金 着せる／賦与するs?"

"Certainly—what do you mean, dear?" But the 滞るing トン, the quick 紅潮／摘発する, the 回避するd ちらりと見ること betrayed Susan.

The simpleton! thought Mrs. Sacret scornfully. She doesn't care for me in the least; she is 脅すd.

Aloud she 示唆するd that the horses had waited long enough; she would like the 運動 after walking the pavements so long, and she went 速く upstairs to put on her bonnet and mantle.

Halfway up she 解任するd that she had left Susan alone with the letters, and paused はっきりと. But what did it 事柄? I meant to 燃やす them; besides, she will never think of looking behind the 調書をとる／予約するs.

When she returned to the parlor she took the 警戒 of approaching and ちらりと見ることing at the fireside 棚上げにするs. Behind the shabby 容積／容量s, the letters were still there. Susan was by the window, （電話線からの）盗聴 her foot nervously.

ｧ 4

The luxurious 運動 was a keener 楽しみ than Mrs. Sacret had believed it could be; not only did she enjoy the 慰安 and the distinction of her position, she felt as if at last she was in her rightful place and that the social aspirations of the haberdasher's daughter and the squire's son, 失望させるd in themselves, had now been realized in her. This was what she really was, a lady, not a missionary's 未亡人. Her marriage, the chapel, Jamaica, seemed now not to 事柄, even never to have happened.

But her 現在の elevation was a delusion; soon she would return to Minton Street and the search for a "状況／情勢."

Susan chattered, but with a 確かな shrewdness, arising, Mrs. Sacret thought, from desperation.

She tried to discover her friend's prospects and hopes of 雇用 and was not 平易な to 誤って導く on these 支配するs.

"It must be very difficult for you, Olivia," she 主張するd. "It will be hard for you to find a position you like—you have been searching for months, 港／避難所't you? And though you are so clever, you 港／避難所't those horrid, dull 資格s needed for a good 地位，任命する."

"Why do you think I am clever?" asked Mrs. Sacret sweetly. "I 港／避難所't been very fortunate, have I? Not done much with myself!"

"I don't think," replied Susan, with one of those uncomfortable flashes of insight that even stupid people will show, "that you ever bothered enough with yourself. You were always rather tired and just did the easiest things."

Yes, that was it, Mrs. Sacret agreed. She had always 欠如（する）d 企業, boldness; she had never made anything of herself. 抑圧するd by poverty and the 失望／欲求不満 it brought, she had slipped into the only marriage that was 申し込む／申し出d, done her 義務 in an insipid way, tried to earn a living in a timid fashion, yet she had always felt a 殺到する of 反乱, a 可能性のある daring. I must have been, truly, as Susan says, tired.

"Yes," she agreed aloud. "I have been 欠如（する）ing in—much. And I am rather 疲れた／うんざりした." Suddenly she 公表する／暴露するd herself. "I have been walking about London for months, looking for work, always disappointed."

"Oh!" exclaimed Susan, しっかり掴むing her friend's 手渡す affectionately. "You must come with me and 残り／休憩（する）—even if only for a short time."

"I might, dear," agreed Mrs. Sacret, as the horses turned out of the park, toward Minton Street. "That would not commit either of us to anything, would it?"

ｧ 5

Mrs. Sacret prayed to god when she first entered the Old Priory that she might be enabled to help her friend, and she used those words when explaining herself to her Dissenting 知識s. "I am trying to help a friend, who is lonely and not very happy. I do not know how long I shall stay with her."

No one was 利益／興味d, she had always been too aloof from the chapel, save when she について言及するd her 未来 演説（する）／住所, then she saw a gleam of surprise and envy on several dull 直面するs.

They have to 収容する／認める, she thought, that I have good 関係s and that I am what I always （人命などを）奪う，主張するd to be, a gentlewoman.

She 解決するd to take no money from Olivia; this was to be a visit, no 商売／仕事 協定. She would stay three months at the Old Priory, then look for a 状況／情勢, this time from a comfortable background, with more 信用／信任, and の中で Anglican 会・原則s. Dissent dropped from her easily; she 設立する no difficulty in returning to a church that she had never really left. It would be so much more convenient and 改善する her standing in her new position. After all, she would not need to change her God or her 祈りs. "I do really ーするつもりである to be of service to poor Susan," she 保証するd this Deity and herself.

It was gratifying to be able to pity Susan. A few days at the Old Priory showed Mrs. Sacret, trained in 観察 of her husband's flocks, her friend's commonplace troubles. ツバメ Rue had the 外見 of a 強健な young man, blond, comely, a stolid Anglo-Saxon. But his temperament was that of a middle-老年の 無効の; an expensive education had left him incompetent in everything except perhaps his 商売／仕事 of which Mrs. Sacret knew nothing, with no 利益／興味s beyond his own 病気s, his 薬／医学 chest and his hothouses.

He was away frequently, either at the city offices of the bank—St. Child's—of which he was a partner, at his club, or with his mother. Although he received Mrs. Sacret civilly he 警告するd her not to encourage Susan in "frivolity" and hinted that she was inclined to make 知識s of which he could not 認可する, and that he had had "to 減少（する）" most of the people she had known when he married her, 含むing her first husband's family, the Dasents, who belonged to a "急速な／放蕩な 軍の 始める，決める." Mrs. Sacret with her landed gentry 降下／家系 and her impeccable character was an exception to these strictures, but she felt a ありふれた dislike between herself and the master of the Old Priory.

The idleness of the couple 利益／興味d the guest, used to an ordered 存在 十分な of insistent, if futile, 義務s. Ever since her return to London her search for work had kept her 占領するd and 疲労，（軍の）雑役d. At the Old Priory there was nothing to do when the short daily 決まりきった仕事 was over.

Susan was a fair if disinterested housekeeper. The servants were 適する, the house comfortable, her husband managed the menservants and the stables and grounds were as 正統派の as the mansion; if there was no 調印する of taste in either, there was 非，不，無 of disorder. Mrs. Sacret 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd waste and extravagance on Susan's part, but these were 井戸／弁護士席 hidden. She had her own money 同様に as her allowance to make good any insufficiencies.

After she had seen the cook and given her orders she had the empty hours on her 手渡すs. A visit to the shops, to the dressmaker, to the lending library, a call on some woman she hardly knew, or a visit from some such 知識, a 運動 in the park, such were Susan's days. She had no 業績／成就s and could not even play croquet or whist, tat or embroider, the only 調書をとる／予約するs she read were love stories. When she talked to her new 設立する friend it was always of the past.

The long 激しい breakfasts were eaten in silence as Mr. Rue sat behind the Times; the long 激しい dinners …を伴ってd dragging conversations Mrs. Sacret 設立する more tedious than silence. The master of the house had the dyspeptic's （民事の）告訴s of his food, the mistress of the house the nervous 弁護 of the woman bored by both the man and his meals. After dinner Mr. Rue would go to his smoking room and Susan and Mrs. Sacret to the pleasant garden boudoir, as it was 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d, and there while away the evening, Susan ばく然と admiring her friend's active fingers, for Mrs. Sacret could not sit やめる idle and would sew or embroider diligently. Once old Mrs. Rue （機の）カム on a visit; her son was the only child of a late and 簡潔な／要約する marriage and she doted on him. A large, colorless, expensively dressed woman, she took on life and even brilliancy through emotion when she regarded her daughter-in-法律. At once she was 率直に 脅迫的な to Mrs. Sacret whom she asked into the luxurious bedroom always reserved for her at the Old Priory.

"A queer idea for Susan to have a companion."

"I'm not a companion. A friend."

"Oh! It has been a long visit. A mistake to 干渉する between husband and wife."

"I never 干渉する."

"A third person in the house is ぎこちない."

"Not for Susan. She was so much alone."

"I knew she had been complaining. She could find plenty to do if she looked after my son. Before he left home it took all my time to take care of him. He is very delicate."

"This is his home now, isn't it? And I'm sure he doses himself too much; he should see a doctor, instead of making up his own 薬／医学s."

The two women 交流d level looks of dislike.

"You would hardly know anything about that, Mrs. Sacret."

"I do. I used to keep a dispensary and learned something of 麻薬s."

"You were a missionary, Mrs. Sacret. Church of England?"

"My husband and I worked as Christians, Mrs. Rue. We never thought in 条件 of denominations."

"I see, Dissenters," said the 年上の lady. "My son is High Church. You have a very pretty dress on, Mrs. Sacret—very 流行の／上流の for 嘆く／悼むing.

"Susan gave it to me," smiled Mrs. Sacret. "She has bought me a wardrobe. I had nothing fit for this house. She has her own money and it pleased her to spend it like this."

Mrs. Rue 紅潮／摘発するd at this 冷静な／正味の 反抗, and her faded 注目する，もくろむs ちらりと見ることd contemptuously at the other woman's plain, 井戸／弁護士席-fitted cashmere gown, with the delicate cambric collar and cuffs, and the ruffles and buttons of 黒人／ボイコット velvet. Mrs. Sacret's hazel-colored hair was 小衝突d to a pale shimmer and hung in a 黒人／ボイコット chenille 逮捕する. She wore jet earrings that 始める，決める off her 罰金 complexion.

"You have discarded your 未亡人's cap," said Mrs. Rue, with a shudder that shook her own starched and crape erection. "And before your year's 嘆く／悼むing is over."

"Does that 事柄 to you?" asked Mrs. Sacret sweetly.

The 年上の woman trembled, her fat fingers pulled at the glossy silk stretched over her fat 膝s.

"This is my son's home. Susan should think of him—"

"She does. Too much. Too often. She is afraid of him."

"What do you mean! ツバメ is the kindest of men!"

"And Susan the meekest of women. Perhaps you're glad to have it 確認するd, Mrs. Rue—for you must have known it, that Susan lives in 恐れる of your son—of his 不平（をいう）ing, his bad temper, his 無視する，冷たく断わるs."

"And she called you in to 保護する her, I suppose?"

"Perhaps."

"This is very insolent. I shall speak to Susan and you must go. You are making mischief, I can see that. You suddenly appear—"

Mrs. Sacret interrupted.

"No, I was at school with Susan. I've always been in her 信用／信任. I shall not leave unless I wish. Only Susan could make me."

"She shall," 宣言するd Mrs. Rue, rising, shaking out her 少しのd; the two 未亡人s 直面するd one another. "I shall 願望（する） her to do so."

"Susan will never send me away. I told you she was very meek. Timid. She is afraid of me—also."

"Why?" 需要・要求するd Mrs. Rue, with an eager, pouncing look. "Because I am the stronger character."

"You spoke as if you had a 持つ／拘留する over her—"

"A 持つ／拘留する?" Mrs. Sacret smiled haughtily.

"I always thought Susan might have something to 隠す—"

"Did you? How uncharitable of you!"

The 年上の woman, 意図 on her own line of thought, ignored this and continued.

"I suppose you knew her when she was making herself 目だつ with Sir John Curle, a married man."

"I told you, I've known her since we were children."

"Bah!" exclaimed Mrs. Rue, throwing all civility aside. "I understand you very 井戸／弁護士席. You have everything to 伸び（る） from Susan, you mean to stay here, in idleness, in my son's house—"

"On Susan's money—"

"She せねばならない 手渡す it over to her husband."

"So she has. Nearly all of it. Like a fool. But she has kept enough—"

"What could I know?" asked Mrs. Sacret sweetly.

"I thought—usually—it's letters—indiscreet letters. If you had any—"

Mrs. Sacret わずかに flinched and the other 星／主役にするing woman perceived this.

"You ought, as a Christian woman, to show them to my son." She cast 負かす／撃墜する her 注目する，もくろむs and 追加するd, "He would be a good friend to you. He has 影響（力）—a position, whatever you want. He is, really, I repeat, the kindest of men."

Mrs. Sacret hesitated on the 瀬戸際 of extreme plain speaking but controlled herself, said "good afternoon" and left the room.

ｧ 6

This blunt interview had been exhilarating to Olivia Sacret. She so seldom spoke 率直に and there had been a 最小限 of hypocrisy about Mrs. Rue, who had as good as 認める that she 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd Susan of having an uncomfortable secret and her friend of using this as a "持つ／拘留する" over her. Moreover, the stout 未亡人 had 事実上 申し込む／申し出d to buy this secret, in order to 廃虚 her daughter-in-法律 at a higher price than Susan could 支払う／賃金.

Olivia Sacret was not shocked or alarmed; she was, however, 極端に 利益／興味d and her sense of 力／強力にする 増加するd. Now she was important to Mrs. Rue 同様に as to Susan, she who had been so insignificant, even so slighted.

This was the first time the letters had been について言及するd since she had come to the Old Priory, but they were 絶えず in her mind and she kept them locked in a cashbox she had bought for this 目的, in the 底（に届く） of her chest of drawers, which was also locked. She admired Mrs. Rue's shrewd guess. How 著名な that both she and Susan had at once 大（公）使館員d such importance to the letters! Indiscreet? No, they were やめる 害のない. Mrs. Rue had only surmised their 存在, she would suppose them much more 妥協ing than they were. Mrs. Sacret paused in her reflections at this word "妥協ing"—that was the word people used when they meant that indiscretion 原因（となる）d a 疑問 to be cast on a woman's 評判.

She threw off the muffling 宣告，判決 she had mechanically formed. Mrs. Rue 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 廃虚 Susan, to be rid of the hated interloper, to 回復する her son. Therefore Mrs. Rue was 用意が出来ている to を取り引きする the stranger she had 設立する 突然に at the Old Priory and whose presence she could only account for by—ゆすり，恐喝.

Mrs. Sacret used the word boldly to herself; she 紅潮／摘発するd, not with shame, but excitement. She was too sure of herself and her own 動機s to feel in the least abashed at the position in which she 設立する herself. Susan felt embarrassed, if not 有罪の of—indiscretion. Mrs. George Rue had 明らかにする／漏らすd herself as an 嫌悪すべき person, mean, jealous, backbiting. ツバメ Rue 削減（する） a poor 人物／姿／数字 between his overbearing mother and his cowed wife. I must pray for all of them, 反映するd Mrs. Sacret. I must try to bring peace and good will to these unhappy people. Perhaps God sent me here just for that.

She thought that かもしれない the consciousness of the worthiness of her 意向s was giving her this 刺激するd energy; she felt more 決定的な than ever before, her old 存在 shriveled away and she flexed her 手渡す as if pulling strings. It was astonishing to her that she had spoken so はっきりと to old Mrs. Rue. She had never 滞るd before the sharp 強襲，強姦s of a woman so much older and better placed than herself; indeed, she had enjoyed her own 強烈な 扱うing of the interview.

Mrs. George Rue had spitefully 発言／述べるd on her elegant dress. Remembrance of this 'made Olivia Sacret look more 真面目に than usual into her mirror. She was nearly a pretty woman, perhaps could easily be a pretty woman. A strange reflection, this in Susan's handsome cheval glass: the missionary's 未亡人, in her 嘆く／悼むing, the woman who had, years ago, parted with all 期待s, all hopes of anything save a 淡褐色 決まりきった仕事 主要な to the chapel burying ground.

She smiled at herself. I'm still young. Of course, it is the 残り／休憩（する）, the good food, the good 着せる／賦与するs. She did not 追加する even in her thoughts, that it was also something else that 紅潮／摘発するd her smooth cheek and brightened her （疑いを）晴らす hazel 注目する，もくろむs, the knowledge that she 所有するd 力／強力にする over other people.

ｧ 7

Susan, who had been 混乱させるd and silly during dinner began to weep as soon as she was alone in the garden room with Mrs. Sacret. "You see how detestable Mrs. George Rue is?" she complained. "She only comes here to torment me! You heard how she sneered and showed me up! And ツバメ supported her!"

"Yes," agreed Mrs. Sacret. "And I don't understand how you 耐える it. Why don't you 陳列する，発揮する some spirit? You have some of your own money—and you could make your husband give you what he 投資するd for you—"

"I should never dare to ask him!" sobbed Susan.

"教える your lawyer, dear."

"Oh, that would mean a shocking quarrel!"

"As for that—isn't it a quarrel, now?"

"Oh, not like that would be! ツバメ doesn't scold so when his mother stays away and when he hasn't just seen her—"

Mrs. Sacret 反映するd that she did not know the whole of the story of Susan and her husband; they spent hours together in the large formal bedroom and dressing room upstairs—perhaps they were not 完全に estranged, nor Susan 完全に open with her friend. Perhaps there was something in her marriage that Susan wished to keep. To Mrs. Sacret's taste ツバメ did not seem 価値（がある） 競うing for, she 設立する him わずかに repulsive in spite of his 青年 and good looks that （許可，名誉などを）与えるd so unpleasantly with his nervous nagging and 激しい 関心 with his health, a habit formed and encouraged by his possessive, ignorant mother. She was always able to get 持つ／拘留する of him, 反映するd Mrs. Sacret, by fussing over his chest or his 頭痛s—she made a coward of him for her own ends.

"I wish I had had children," sighed Susan, pulling the long bell rope.

Mrs. Sacret 決起大会／結集させるd to this new topic that Susan had never touched on before.

"I am glad I did not," she replied. "The 責任／義務 would have been too 広大な／多数の／重要な. They might have 相続するd Frederick's poor 憲法. The Lord knows best."

"Oh, dear, we both married 無効のs!" exclaimed Susan, wiping her 注目する，もくろむs on her long lace handkerchief.

"I don't think Mr. Rue is an 無効の, he has been cosseted by his mother; he doesn't take any 演習, either, and then, those 薬／医学s he makes up himself—"

"I'm sure you are 権利," murmured Susan. "What can I do? I have no 影響（力）, and, as you say, dear, his mother encourages him in all his whims."

"You had him alone in Florence. I wonder you 説得するd him to go abroad."

"I didn't. He thought the 気候 would be good for his chest. We had the dullest time! ツバメ sat on the veranda all day."

"He should have been cured."

"No—he caught a 冷気／寒がらせる, the sun 減少（する）s suddenly and the nights are bitter; really our room was like a 丸天井 at night and only a pan of charcoal with which to heat it."

The maid entered and Susan ordered a 瓶／封じ込める of sherry and some glasses to be brought.

Mrs. Sacret turned to her own 事件／事情／状勢s.

"I have an applicant for my little house, Susan. I told you I put a card in the window? I 設立する a letter on the mat, when I went there yesterday. From one 示す Bellis, a painter. I wrote to make an 任命 with him."

"I hope that means you are staying here 無期限に／不明確に, dear."

"Why, no. I thought I would let the house for three months, then I shall have 残り／休憩（する）d and be able to go 支援する. I can't afford to 許す it to remain empty."

"I wish you would 許す me to give you—a—stipend," said Susan hurriedly and timidly.

"You 支払う／賃金 for my 着せる／賦与するs, dear."

"But—pocket money—"

"No. I could not. I have no expenses. I don't even 支払う／賃金 anyone to look after the house. I do that myself. I have 十分な money. I'm here to help you, Susan. Not to make a 利益（をあげる） for myself. I've to 支払う／賃金 poor Frederick's doctor's account."

Susan ちらりと見ることd at her 速く.

"Have you 燃やすd the letters, Olivia?"

The servant brought in the sherry and two glasses. Mrs. Sacret waited until she had gone before replying.

"I had forgotten all about them, Susan. They are so unimportant."

"Yes, of course. Where do you keep them?"

"I believe they are in the 底（に届く） of my little trinket box," said Mrs. Sacret carelessly. "With some other dear souvenirs. Really I shall dislike to destroy your handwriting, reminding me of those happy days."

She believed that she spoke 心から, and she looked in a kindly fashion at Susan. But behind the 親切 was curiosity. Susan drank two glasses of sherry in silence and her friend bent over her gossamer needlework.

ツバメ Rue entered awkwardly on the privacy of the two 静かな women, seated daintily in their satin and gilt 議長，司会を務めるs in the rosy glow of the silver lamp. He ちらりと見ることd at once toward the sherry 瓶／封じ込める.

"You drank enough at dinner, 告訴する," he rebuked 突然の. "A pint of red ワイン, and more than enough sherry for a lady—and why two glasses? Mrs. Sacret always says she doesn't drink alcohol."

"Oh, but tonight I thought I would like a glass," smiled Mrs. Sacret coolly. "I often do—though I 辞退する it at （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する—drink a little sherry here with Susan. Do you 反対する, Mr. Rue? Is the ワイン 手段d out?"

"I like to keep a check on it," he replied with 敵意. "The 週刊誌 expenses are very 激しい."

"I 支払う／賃金 my own ワイン 法案s, ツバメ," whispered Susan, looking away from him. "You know that I have to have some to keep up my strength."

"For what, pray?" he interrupted rudely. "And I wish you would not order ワイン—汚い stuff from the 蓄える／店s, fit only for bad cooking."

"You always lock up yours," retorted Susan, 紅潮／摘発するing. "And please don't scold me so often, in 前線 of Olivia, too."

"Oh, Madam here knows all your secrets, of course!" exclaimed Mr. Rue with temper. "My mother says—"

Mrs. Sacret 速く interrupted.

"Does she, sir? Neither of us wish to hear what she says, do we, Susan?"

Emboldened by this 反抗, Susan gulped her third glass of sherry and agreed. "No, we really don't. We are sick and tired of your mother, ツバメ."

"You dare to tell me that—with this—friend—of yours abetting you?"

Mr. Rue turned with a vulgar politeness to Mrs. Sacret. "Madam, I don't consider you a good 影響（力） on my wife. My mother supports me in asking that you bring your visit, your very long visit, to an end."

"I shall leave when Susan 願望（する）s me to do so, Mr. Rue." Mrs. Sacret had no difficulty in 持続するing her composure; she felt fully 正当化するd in what she did and not in the least afraid of this いじめ（る）ing man. "I am 保護するing poor Susan from these two disagreeable people," she told herself, as if she were two （独立の）存在s, one of which dictated to and advised the other. "It must be God's wish I should do so."

"Yes, it is my house 同様に as yours," 宣言するd Susan with 強烈な feebleness. "And I'm sure that Olivia is the only company and the only 慰安 I get. Why do you want her to go?" she 追加するd tearfully.

"Yes, why, Mr. Rue?" Olivia Sacret covered up this 証拠不十分 on her friend's part. "I never 干渉する with you and I cost you nothing."

"That's as may be," he 再結合させるd, with a 十分な 星／主役にする at her 高くつく／犠牲の大きい 着せる／賦与するs, "but I like my house to myself."

The missionary's 未亡人 had some satisfaction in 公式文書，認めるing the 天然のまま defects in her 対抗者. She had met his type, かなり 軟化するd by 厳格な，質素な training, in her chapel work. A mother's darling, a school いじめ（る）, idle, stupid and vain, mean and ostentatious. He married Susan for her money without caring for her in the least, she thought. And now he would like to return to Blackheath and be pampered by that doting old woman again.

Her fingers hurried over her needlework with delicate precision and an 暗示するd rebuke at idleness, while the unhappy couple remained sunk in a sullen silence. Susan drooped in her 議長，司会を務める, 星／主役にするing from reddened 注目する，もくろむs at the two stained glasses from both of which she had drunk. Her husband stood gloomily by the hearth, his 手渡すs in his pockets, his dark 着せる／賦与するs out of place in the frivolous dainty room and the pink lamplight.

Mrs. Sacret considered him in a flashed ちらりと見ること, enjoying her dislike as she enjoyed her sense of 力／強力にする, for all keen emotions were new to her and therefore 刺激するing. She wondered if he had heard his mother's quick guess as to "a 持つ／拘留する" over Susan, and possible "letters." She did not think so, he would have been more 乱すd than he was, had this been so. Besides, old Mrs. Rue would have been very 用心深い with what might 証明する a precious 武器 with which to 追い出す her daughter-in-法律. She would consider long before making what might be a 誤った step.

How ugly he is, she thought. His features are good, but his hair and complexion are tinged such a repulsive ginger yellow and his 注目する，もくろむs are like gooseberries—such a hangdog 表現, too. Yet I suppose he would be 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d a 罰金-looking man.

ツバメ Rue 終結させるd what was to him an intolerable silence by （犯罪の）一味ing the bell and when the maid carne bidding her take away the sherry. "Your mistress has had 十分な."

When the woman had gone, Susan broke into furious words. "Now you have 侮辱d me before the servants! Everyone in the house will think I drink too much!"

"They know it already. I said—十分な."

"Curtis knew what you meant. Oh, really I can't 耐える this life!" Susan moaned. "So dull, and you always scolding me! I am not to have a friend to stay with me, or even a glass of sherry! I must leave you—I really must—"

"Pray, do, if you please. I too find this sort of thing unendurable—I must consider my health—"

"Don't say a word!" cried Susan, heated, pretty and uncontrolled. "I'm sick of 審理，公聴会 of your health—and your 汚い 薬／医学s! And that horrid Indian basket you keep in your room, 十分な of disgusting 麻薬s! I wish I could be 離婚d!"

"Such things can be arranged," said Mr. Rue 激しく.

Mrs Sacret rose.

"I cannot sit here, and listen to this," she 抗議するd, 倍のing up her needlework. "離婚—arranged! Is that your 尊敬（する）・点 for Christian marriage, Mr. Rue? I'll not hear—"

"You need not have heard anything had you wished," he replied rudely. "You remained, listening for your own ends."

"I stayed to 保護する your wife," said Mrs. Sacret, 解除するing her （疑いを）晴らす, 有望な, hazel ちらりと見ること to her 対抗者's 激しい 直面する. "Susan, dear, why not go to bed?" She helped her friend to rise. Susan つまずくd in her long, frilled, pink dress. Her 注目する，もくろむs were わずかに blurred and beads of sweat showed on her brow and lip. ツバメ Rue made a sound of theatrical disgust. "Bah!"

"Your wife!" cried Mrs. Sacret reprovingly. "And so pretty and gentle too! I don't know about such horrid 事柄s, but surely she could get a 離婚 for your unkindness, Mr. Rue. And look at the 明言する／公表する to which you are 運動ing her. Yes, a 離婚," she repeated, supporting Susan's florid beauty against her own 会社／堅い shoulder, "and then you would have to return her all her money and she could live as she liked." Mrs. Sacret had said more than she had meant to say, but she did not check the flow of her 静かな 勝利. "Then I could see Florence and such places."

Mr. Rue took a 天然のまま 復讐.

"I have my health to consider!" he shouted and flung out of the room, banging the door.

"It was 肉親，親類d of you," murmured Susan, "not to give me away about the two glasses. I always order two in 事例／患者 you care to drink a little sherry and then I forget and drink from both."

"Susan, that is an untruth. You know I never touch alcohol. And you use the two glasses deliberately to disguise how much you take. You really do 越える a little, dear. I know it is because you are so unhappy. And I won't tell anyone—though I 恐れる they all know."

"Could you not drink at dinner? Just a glass?" pleaded Susan. "You see, I must have it."

"No. It would be wrong to do that. Why don't you try to get your money from Mr. Rue? Then you would be rich and could live as you pleased."

"I would not dare," wept Susan, "the lawyers—"

"If you are afraid of them, I daresay I could interview them for you. Now, you had better go to bed. I shall help you upstairs. You really have made yourself やめる ill, one way and another."

At the door, leaning on her friend's arm, Susan whispered, "Why did you say—'Then I could see Florence and such places'?"

"So you heard! I was thinking out loud, I suppose. Foolishly! Only—if you did leave Mr. Rue I could go abroad with you for a short time."

"I don't want to leave him. I couldn't 直面する 存在 不名誉d, 星／主役にするd at and 削減（する）. Why do you want to see Florence?"

"Susan, dear, you have drunk just a little too much ワイン. Do come upstairs, and 解除する up your dress and walk carefully."

"You've seen Jamaica. I 港／避難所't—why do you want to see Florence?" 固執するd Susan obstinately. "I don't want to see Jamaica."

"In Jamaica I was a missionary's wife, tied to an 無効の—"

Susan interrupted. "I'm tied to an 無効の—that is all he thinks of—his 汚い 薬／医学s."

Mrs. Sacret hushed her, 辛勝する／優位d her up the stairs and to the door of her room; when the door opened she had a glimpse of that luxurious and forlorn apartment, formal, tasteless and chilly. The door to the dressing room was の近くにd.

"Shall I send Curtis up?"

"No," mumbled Susan, walking unsteadily to the large 二塁打 bed, glittering in red mahogany and inlaid 厚かましさ／高級将校連.

Mrs. Sacret left her. "I daresay he often finds her like that in the morning, asleep in her 着せる／賦与するs. What a fool she is! She will spoil her looks. She is still very pretty indeed, though. And with beauty and money and a good place in society—井戸／弁護士席—almost good society, she could not even find a gentleman to marry."

Yes, that was the 事例／患者. ツバメ Rue, whatever his birth and education, was no more Mrs. Sacret's idea of a gentleman than her own husband had been. She thought, with secret pride, of her father and this made her feel even more superior to Susan than before.

ｧ 8

Mrs. Sacret met her 見込みのある tenant by 任命 at her house in Minton Street. He was the first applicant she had had, for there were many To LET notices in the dingy 隣接する streets and there was no particular attraction about her 所有物／資産／財産. She did not like the man's description of himself as "a painter"; the word to her 代表するd unstability and ungodliness, but his letter had been 井戸／弁護士席 written though from an 演説（する）／住所 that she knew to be humble and probably an apartment house in Pimlico. She had decided, if he had respectable 言及／関連s and seemed himself responsible, to 受託する him as a tenant and at a 穏健な rent. The 率s were low, and any sum above those would be 利益（をあげる）.

The house she had once felt proud to own looked very mean and shabby as she considered it with a 批判的な 注目する，もくろむ, going from room to room and adjusting the worn furniture and shabby curtains. When she had come to dust and 空気／公表する the place she had hardly noticed it; now, in mental comparison with the Old Priory, she felt わずかに ashamed of it and startled to realize that it was her home and that she would have to return to it—and from that background earn her living.

She sat 負かす／撃墜する in the parlor, considering this intolerable prospect. Yes, suddenly intolerable. Why, this place was wretched, not even clean, compared to Susan's home where busy servants kept every インチ of 支持を得ようと努めるd, 石／投石する and metal washed and 向こうずねing.

The bell rang and she sprang up, nervous from her own thoughts, not from 恐れる of the newcomer. He can have it, she decided, with a touch of panic, for almost any price.

She went to the 前線 door, but a step from the tiny parlor across the 狭くする hall, and opened it wide.

A young man stood on the small flagstone, between the railings of the two areas. It seemed absurd that he should be there, and yet Mrs. Sacret did not know why.

"I am 示す Bellis," he said, raising his hat. "Mrs. Sacret?"

"Yes, please to enter, Mr. Bellis. This is the parlor."

She に先行するd him, feeling subdued, a little shaken; she 決起大会／結集させるd her spirits, however, and said:

"You know the exterior of the house. Shall I show you the rooms?"

"If you will be so good."

"As I said—the parlor—very modestly furnished, but all that is needful—a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, 議長，司会を務めるs, a bookcase, coal 売春婦d."

"Yes, all that is needful."

They were in the passage again. "A little room at the 支援する that I—we—never used much." 集会 up her expensive 嘆く／悼むing she went 突然の 負かす／撃墜する the 法外な dark stairs to the 地階. "A kitchen, a scullery—equipped—but I don't suppose that 利益／興味s you."

She did not look at him, and 急いでd upstairs; she heard him behind her, a 静かな, 会社／堅い tread such as had not sounded in this house in her memory. She showed him the two bedrooms, each with a 選び出す／独身 bed with a white honeycomb quilt, washed muslin at the windows, squares of drugget, and yellow varnished （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs, chests and washing stands.

"That is all." Still she did not look at him; she turned again and was quickly in the 前線 parlor, that 独特の tread behind her; without 直面するing him, she asked: "Does it 控訴 you?"

"Very 井戸／弁護士席. I live alone, but my 現在の apartment is too small. I have much 板材 to 蓄える／店. What, please, Mrs. Sacret, is the rent?" Gazing at the 床に打ち倒す, she answered:

"Two 続けざまに猛撃するs a week."

"I could not 支払う／賃金 that. I am a painter, not known. I do not earn much. The rent of this house cannot be above fifteen 続けざまに猛撃するs a year. Good day."

Mrs. Sacret was startled.

"Don't go. You think I ask a high 人物／姿／数字. You see me 井戸／弁護士席 dressed; that is because I am companion to a rich woman. My husband left me nothing but this house. The rent of it 代表するs my 単独の means."

"I am sorry, it is too much for me."

She looked as high as his 手渡す on the doorknob.

"How much would you 支払う／賃金?"

"One 続けざまに猛撃する a week. Far too high. But I don't wish to waste time looking さらに先に—and it 控訴s me, and since you make a point of the money—

"No more than you do!" she flashed, looking up, then 負かす／撃墜する again. "This is half what I 推定する／予想するd—but I am not used to 取引ing."

"No? We have agreed, then?"

"I shall want 言及／関連s."

"I have 非，不，無," he replied coolly. "I have been abroad, フラン, Italy. My friends are scattered—if I may think them friends. My 現在の landlady will 保証する you that I have paid my rent for three months and been a 静かな tenant."

"支払う／賃金 me six months in 前進する, then," 需要・要求するd Mrs. Sacret, 星／主役にするing at the 床に打ち倒す boards as if she saw through them, 深い into another world.

"I could not do that, Mrs. Sacret. I may be engaged to work for Mr. Fox Oldham at Lyndbridge House in Kent. If so—then I'll 支払う／賃金 you for six months—"

"Portraits?" she asked.

"Mural decorations. For the home-coming of a bride."

"Then you would have to live there—in Kent?"

"Perhaps. 非，不，無 of it is 確かな yet. Will you let me this house, Mrs. Sacret?"

"Yes. I suppose so. You'll 支払う／賃金 something?"

"I thought you were not used to 取引ing. A 君主. One week's rent from today."

Her 注目する，もくろむs were again at the level of his 手渡す. She saw it place the gold coin on the mean （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する where she and her husband, then she alone, had had their dreary, tasteless meals.

"Can you come here tomorrow, at the same time, to make an 在庫 of your 所有／入手s, Mrs. Sacret?"

"Yes."

"Good day, then. And bring a 領収書 for the 君主."

He went. She heard two doors shut, then she raised her 長，率いる and 星／主役にするd at the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where he had stood.

ｧ 9

"I've let my little house, Susan."

"Oh! For how long?"

"It is not decided. I 会合，会う Mr. Bellis again tomorrow."

Susan tried to forget her own 不快s and to show an 利益／興味 in her friend's 事件／事情／状勢s, for she was conscious that for once Mrs. Sacret 手配中の，お尋ね者 to talk about herself. Sewing industriously in the rosy light of the silver lamp she recounted her interview with her tenant. Susan thought it sounded very dull and wondered why Olivia seemed so 利益／興味d, even excited and pleased.

"What was he like, Olivia?"

"I hardly know. I scarcely looked at him, or noticed. All I was thinking of was letting the house."

"Why were you in such a hurry, dear? And a painter, you say. A stranger, without 言及／関連s—who would not 支払う／賃金 in 前進する! I'm sure I don't know much about 商売／仕事—but I thought you did," said Susan candidly.

"I liked him," 認める Mrs. Sacret, laying 負かす／撃墜する her sewing. "He is different from anyone whom I have met before. He has traveled much, and knows much of people and things. He has some 目的 in life—is bold and careless, yet sure and 慎重な. His presence makes life different. It would be impossible to be 疲れた／うんざりしたd in his company."

"Yet you scarcely saw him!" exclaimed Susan, startled.

"A ちらりと見ること was 十分な to tell me his—character—shall I say?—or his attraction?"

"Then you let him have your house, on his own 条件, because he fascinated you! How queer! Do tell me what he is like, Olivia. Of course you noticed—"

"Yes. He is 極端に elegant. A gentleman. You would not suppose him to be a painter—not that I ever met one. He looks as if he were 井戸／弁護士席 to do. Not in the least as if he （機の）カム from Pimlico lodgings. That is why I asked a high rent. He is about thirty-five years old. Neither dark nor fair—a 有望な color, like gold under brown in his hair and 注目する，もくろむs—his complexion very healthy, yes, he is a 罰金, 強健な, healthy man."

"How 半端物 he 手配中の，お尋ね者 your house!"

"Yes. I could not let him go, he 利益／興味d me. That, also, is 半端物."

Mrs. Sacret 選ぶd up her sewing and Susan sat in an uneasy silence. She felt, ばく然と, that a new and 敵意を持った 影響（力） had entered her already troubled life. After a pause she 調査（する）d her friend's 意向s, looking with 逮捕 at the neat 人物／姿／数字 of Mrs. Sacret in the handsome 嘆く／悼むing, her charming 長，率いる with the hazel-colored braids bent so that her 正確な profile was 辛勝する／優位d by the rosy lamplight that struck dull gleams from her polished jet earrings and brooch.

"Are you—staying with me—for a long time, Olivia?"

"How 脅すd you sound! Do you wish to get rid of me, as your husband and his mother do? I want to stay and look after you, dear. You are so 決めかねて about your own 事件／事情／状勢s. You won't stand up for yourself. I should like to see you in 所有／入手 of your own fortune—and happy—"

"You'll never see that," replied Susan quickly. "Don't you understand yet—about John?"

Mrs. Sacret thought that she did understand, better than she had understood yesterday, what Susan felt. Passion, fascination, obsession—these words had new meanings to her now.

"Lady Curle is still alive," she said 静かに. "You must not speak like that—"

"Then don't you speak of happiness," retorted Susan in a muffled desperate 発言する／表明する. "And pray do destroy those letters."

"The letters! Always the letters! Of course I shall—but they are of no 事柄—"

"Bring them 負かす／撃墜する now."

"There is no 解雇する／砲火／射撃." Mrs. Sacret ちらりと見ることd at the pretty satin-embroidered 審査する, a design of lilies and tulips, that 隠すd the grate.

"I can get some matches."

"And make a smell, and a mess—really you are silly, Susan!"

"You torment me—you don't mean to destroy them—"

"Hush." Mrs. Sacret raised her （疑いを）晴らす 注目する，もくろむs and Susan cowered わずかに into her silk cushions. "You must not 告発する／非難する me of unkindness. I have told you again and again I shall destroy the letters. But I mean to keep them a little longer because you have done something wrong, Susan. I told you they were in my trinket box, and you went into my room and looked for them."

"How do you know!" cried Susan wildly.

"I arranged the things in a 確かな way and they were turned over. I don't 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う the maids. They have never touched anything of 地雷. But just after I told you about the letters the box was tampered with. How silly you are!" she 追加するd scornfully. "If I had had anything of value I should have locked the box—you せねばならない have thought of that."

"Of value—you do think those letters of value, then?"

"Of sentimental value. I told you."

"Were they ever there? Did you move them? Was it a 罠（にかける）?"

"Of course not. I chanced to move them. It is wrong of you to talk so recklessly—of 罠（にかける）s."

"Olivia, I shall give you my new diamond bracelet if you'll destroy those letters!"

"Susan, please. I cannot wear diamonds. Do think. And that sounds like a 賄賂. It is やめる 侮辱ing. The letters are 価値（がある） nothing. I meant to 涙／ほころび them up, in 前線 of you—as small as snowflakes—and throw them away from the carriage when we were 運動ing, one day, in the park—"

"Oh, why didn't you!"

"Because you tried to steal them."

"A 罰! I suppose that was how you were brought up—to punish people."

"Yes. I was. And I was punished, too. At home, at school, as Frederick's wife. Not only for what I did, but for what I was. One 支払う／賃金s for that, you know, Susan."

"You are 厳しい. Used to 取引，協定ing with those wretched heathen."

"I'm your best friend, Susan."

Old Mrs. Rue entered, ちらりと見ることing with equal 敵意 at the 紅潮／摘発するd beauty of her son's wife and the nut brown elegancy of Mrs. Sacret. She 星／主役にするd ostentatiously at the low （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with the painted porcelain 最高の，を越す on which Susan usually had the 瓶／封じ込める of sherry and the two glasses. Tonight it was empty and old Mrs. Rue raised her eyebrows.

"Tea," she 発言／述べるd, seating herself ひどく. "Could we have some tea—so much better for one than ワイン in the evening, don't you think?"

Susan rose and 急いでd out of the room.

"There!" exclaimed her mother-in-法律, with a complacent shrug. "You see how nervous she is! The least word and she is off in a tantrum! I only asked for tea."

"You reminded her that Mr. Rue has forbidden the servants to serve ワイン except at （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する," replied Mrs. Sacret coldly. "You never have tea here. And seldom join us of an evening."

"Hoity-toity! You can't put me out," replied Mrs. Rue. "I understand you perfectly 井戸／弁護士席. I've asked you to leave and my son has asked you to leave. And you are brazen enough to stay. For no good 目的, of course."

"To help Susan. I feel it my 義務."

"Sunday school, Dissenting talk!"

"I was baptized into the Church of England. I …に出席する church with Susan."

"More genteel, I suppose, than the chapel. Really, you have done very 井戸／弁護士席 for yourself, Mrs. Sacret—considering what you are."

"Perhaps I have, Mrs. Rue."

The 年上の lady leaned 今後, there was a 動かす of the scent the 化学者／薬剤師s 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 "violet" from the rice 砕く on her sagging 直面する and the mauve velvet 略章s on her lace cap. "Are you going to tell me about the letters?" she asked.

"I don't know what you mean, Mrs. Rue." Olivia Sacret rose. "黒人／ボイコット mail."

Mrs. Sacret わずかに winced. The word was familiar to her mind, and she had never forgotten the look of it in print, as she had seen it in the Morning 地位，任命する. But this was the first time she had heard it spoken.

"You have a vulgar mind," she sneered.

"Susan doesn't really like you," retorted Mrs. Rue resolutely. "She wouldn't have you here if she wasn't afraid of you. And she wouldn't be afraid of you unless you had a 持つ／拘留する over her. And it's likely to be letters. About that married man she got herself talked of with. She's silly enough to have sent some of his to you—for sympathy or advice—or perhaps you stole them." Mrs. Rue took a small tin box from her pocket and helped herself to mauve cachets. "Or she wrote to you, giving herself away."

"Would she be so 脅すd," asked Mrs. Sacret scornfully, "of what is past?"

"Susan is very timid—and could never 直面する 不名誉. And what 不名誉 ever is past?"

Mrs. Sacret knew that this was true. Susan could never 耐える any スキャンダル. Though she seemed to have nothing to lose in her 現在の life she clung to it 猛烈に, because it was, in a way, 安全な and respectable. Her friend would not 収容する／認める this to old Mrs. Rue. Once more she pointed out that Susan could 需要・要求する all her money from her husband, and 出発／死, a 豊富な woman, for some 流行の／上流の 大陸の spa.

"That is your 計画（する）, I can see," replied old Mrs. Rue. "You want to fasten on her and take her away—to keep you in 高級な. You won't 後継する. Susan hasn't the courage."

"You are 混乱させるd," retorted the other woman. "If you believe that I am—that I have a 持つ／拘留する—over Susan—and she thinks so much of her—good 指名する—then I could make her do as I wished."

The two 未亡人s, one so dowdy, one so elegant, 星／主役にするd at one another. The 年上の was taken aback, she scowled. If this wretched creature was ゆすり，恐喝ing Susan it would be true that she could make that weak, foolish woman do as she pleased. Yet Susan could hardly leave her husband and go ahead without that 中傷する on her 評判 she so much dreaded. Old Mrs. Rue thought 速く. It would 控訴 her やめる 井戸／弁護士席 to be rid of her daughter-in-法律 in this manner. ツバメ would return to her and all would be as it had been at Blackheath. But it would not 控訴 her for ツバメ to return to Susan the large sums of money she had so foolishly given him. Old Mrs. Rue 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d herself 慎重な and that it would be "a sin" to 信用 Susan with her large fortune that she would not know how to manage, and that this designing, wicked Mrs. Sacret would certainly get from her once she had separated her from her husband.

Olivia Sacret guessed what she was thinking. A mean old woman, の近くに 握りこぶしd as her son. It was strange they had not induced Susan to part 合法的に with her money. Probably her father's and her first husband's lawyers looked after her 事件／事情／状勢s and what he could not 得る 合法の, ツバメ had had to wheedle out of Susan.

Old Mrs. Rue sighed, sucking her cachets. She had never had to を取り引きする anything like this before, but she did not feel unequal to the 状況／情勢. Ever since ツバメ had married the detestable Susan, his mother had been 用意が出来ている for anything unpleasant, even Mrs. Sacret did not surprise her. Just what I should have 推定する／予想するd of Susan, she 反映するd, to know a horrible woman like this and get into her clutches.

"I'll go to bed," 発言／述べるd Mrs. Sacret; her soft, pretty 発言する／表明する held no 公式文書，認める of malice or exasperation. She shook out the 倍のs of her 罰金 黒人／ボイコット silk dress with the crape 国境s.

"We've settled nothing," 抗議するd old Mrs. Rue, "the letters—"

"I never 認める there were any 妥協ing letters. For that is what you mean, Mrs. Rue. And there is nothing to settle—or that we ever shall settle," she 追加するd in an even softer トン.

The 年上の 未亡人, looking at her malignantly, thought, Why, she's pretty—as pretty as Susan, in a different style. Younger than I thought, also. And hated her the more 熱心に. But controlled her 憎悪. She had now decided that she would prefer her son to keep Susan and her money, sooner than part with both. But whatever "持つ／拘留する" Mrs. Sacret had over Susan must be transferred to her, Amelia Rue, so that she, and she alone, could keep Susan cowed and obedient. She did not 疑問 that she would have to 支払う／賃金 ひどく for this 嫌悪すべき 侵入者's secret—and she began her bidding.

"I, 同様に as Susan, could give you what you want—say, a visit abroad. Isn't that what you 願望（する）?"

Mrs. Sacret laughed and the other woman was startled. She had never heard Mrs. Sacret laugh before, or a sound like that, so 冷静な／正味の, heartless and amused.

With no more than that laugh, Mrs. Sacret went upstairs. In her own room she stood thoughtfully regarding a 君主 that she took out of the drawer of her dressing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する where she had hidden it under a pile of lawn handkerchiefs.

What, she wondered, had he been thinking of, when he had 申し込む／申し出d her that piece of gold, after their 早い and sordid 取引ing? Did he 認める the falsehoods her 声明s about herself 暗示するd? That she had tried to cheat him over the rent because it had seemed 平易な to do so? Probably he had lied also. No 言及／関連s. An adventurer. What did he want with her mean little house, he in his smart broadcloth and 罰金 linen, with his freshly shaved cheek and glossy hair?

It has nothing to do with me, as long as he 支払う／賃金s his rent. Her thoughts turned, as they had turned on the occasion of her reading the paragraph on the ゆすり，恐喝 事例／患者, to that vague, wide world about her, filled with people of whose lives and means of 存在 she knew nothing, of whose sins and follies she could only guess at 無作為の. A world that might be 極端に exciting, that 誘発するd unsuspected curiosity in her ignorance, as her duel with old Mrs. Rue and her sense of 力／強力にする over Susan had 誘発するd unsuspected passions, as her 会合 with the unplaced stranger had 誘発するd an unaccountable 動かす of fascination such as she had never known before. Her past life, 見解（をとる）d from her 現在の vantage point, seemed incredibly dull, like a waterless, featureless plain ちらりと見ることd at, backwards, from a mountain 味方する. How had she 耐えるd her barren childhood, the humiliations of her poverty-blighted school days, her marriage to a Dissenting, 無効の missionary, those years in Jamaica where she had been 削減（する） off from everyone save a handful of fellow zealots and Negroes, to her 冷淡な and aloof temperament, as degraded as slaves.

She checked her thoughts, reminding herself, without conscious hypocrisy, that she must, in all things, do the will of God, that she must try to 保護する and 改革（する） Susan. She had already been a good 影響（力） over that wayward creature. Susan was drinking いっそう少なく ワイン lately. Sherry would never be served in the garden room again, not only because Mr. Rue had forbidden this, but because Olivia Sacret had said, "Susan, if you really need a little sherry ワイン, for your health, I shall buy a 瓶／封じ込める and keep it in my room. And so you can いつかs have a little, a very little, without annoying your husband or 存在 talked about by the servants."

Susan had been 感謝する for this suggestion and Mrs. Sacret now reminded herself that she must buy the sherry tomorrow when she visited Minton Street and bring it to the Old Priory in the small carpetbag that had belonged to Frederick.

"So Evil My Love" — A Scene from the Film

She 重さを計るd and turned the gold piece in her 手渡す as if it had been something unusual and precious. She 反映するd that she had never 所有するd a jewel nor any ornaments beyond the few silver brooches and bracelets engraved with ferns and ivy leaves given her by her mother on her birthdays, and the simple cross she always wore that had been her husband's wedding gift. She 設立する 楽しみ in the delicate lawn as she 取って代わるd the coin. Until she had come to the Old Priory her handkerchiefs had been cotton. She had not realized that 楽しみ could be 設立する in 高級な because both 楽しみ and 高級な had been so outside her experience. She trembled, turning toward the bed with the satin coverlet where she would ひさまづく "to say her 祈りs" as the pat phrase ran mechanically in her mind. Her thoughts were not heavenwards. Susan had 申し込む／申し出d her a diamond bracelet. Absurd, indecent for a poor missionary's 未亡人 in 激しい 嘆く／悼むing. But for the first time in her life Mrs. Sacret 反映するd that her wrist was white and slender, her arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and 井戸／弁護士席 形態／調整d and that she would like to experience the 半端物 sensation of seeing diamonds clasp the 会社／堅い flesh, never yet adorned, always hidden.

ｧ 10

Mrs. Sacret arrived 早期に at her house. Some of her neighbors coming along the 狭くする streets with baskets of spring greens and onions stopped to speak to her. She regarded these women as very inferior 存在s and never gossiped with them, but today she listened to their inquisitive comments on her 出発 from Minton Street and her new tenant. Apart and agreeable in manner, she told them nothing and went into her cramped parlor to wait for the painter. The place seemed intolerably lonely. Under her prim disguise, of a woman in 嘆く／悼むing, 意図 on sober 商売／仕事, was an 増加するing excitement and enthusiasm, a rising recklessness, ready to 噴出する out and 圧倒する her staid conventionality. An 組織／臓器-grinder was playing at the corner; as she opened the window the luscious Italian melody fell on her expectant ears with a 楽しみ she had not known before from any music. She took off her 未亡人's bonnet and 隠す and passed her pretty 手渡す through her pretty hair, 緩和するing the plain braids so that slender tendrils fell over her small ears and jet earrings. She felt, suddenly, that life would be unbearable if he did not come, if his taking of the house should 証明する to be a mere whim or jest.

Then, on this pang of emotion she saw him, coming around the corner, moving 速く between the dinner hour loungers in fustian, coat and sealskin cap.

She 認める him at once, 招待するd him into the 前線 room and began to speak, without looking at him.

"My friends—with whom I live—advise me against you. You have stirred the curiosity of my neighbors. They tell me you have asked about several houses around here and made 調査s of me before you wrote to me."

"I also 手配中の，お尋ね者 言及／関連s." She knew, without seeing him, that he smiled.

"Why? I let the house—"

He interrupted, but civilly.

"I wished to know if Mrs. Sacret was old, tedious and foolish—I could have no 取引 with such. A missionary's 未亡人—that was very different." His トン was subtly mocking.

"Shall we take the 在庫?" she asked. "Do you really think it 価値（がある） while? A beetle 罠（にかける） in the kitchen, a hassock here, a straw beehive 議長，司会を務める, drugget in place of carpet—"

"I have noticed these 詳細（に述べる）s for myself, Mrs. Sacret."

"This is not a street where painters—artists—men like you live. There is no studio here."

"There is all I 要求する."

"We 取引d yesterday, did we not? If you don't need an 在庫, and I don't, I only have to give you these." She took the 重要な of the house and a 領収書 for a 君主 from her pocket and laid them on the stained rosewood 味方する （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する where yesterday he had put 負かす／撃墜する the gold piece. "You can send your rent to the 演説（する）／住所 from which I wrote."

She paused, feeling the moment wholly in his 力／強力にする.

"Will you 許す me to sketch your portrait?" he asked.

"I was 推定する／予想するing that," she returned 速く. "One of these women 警告するd me. They are shrewd, these ありふれた people. 'He's up to no good,' she said. 'He thinks you've come into money and will try to get around you. He's been asking about the 近隣 and has heard about you.' That is what my neighbors think themselves, that I have come into money."

"Yes, I suppose they would," he replied coolly and left her to continue her explanation.

"Because I was very poor and looking for a 地位，任命する, and suddenly left Minton Street in a carriage and pair, and am 井戸／弁護士席 dressed. But I am as poor as I ever was. I have nothing."

"Does that 関心 me?" he asked. "And why should you in your fearless innocence trouble what the gossips say of one who is, 明白に, an adventurer?"

"You 収容する／認める that?"

"Yes. Are not we all adventurers, who leave rigid conventionalities behind us? Your husband was one when he went abroad as a missionary. You were another when you went to the Old Priory."

"No 疑問." His words pleased her; she felt 保護するd by "fearless innocence" and raised her 長，率いる as if 後見人 angels 保護物，者d her. "I had to help a friend in trouble. God guided me."

"Perhaps a divine cicerone brought me to Minton Street, Mrs. Sacret. May I sketch your portrait?"

Her cheeks tingled; she covered her shock at his 近づく blasphemy by replying quickly, "Do you want to 証明する to me you really are a painter?"

"By no means. I 疑問 if I could. You are probably too ignorant to 裁判官 my capacity from my work."

"I have some taste. This house is 淡褐色, almost squalid. Poverty and discouragement, Mr. Bellis. But I have taste."

"I perceive it in your 衣装. You have contrived to make the grotesque 少しのd you wear becoming."

"Yes, becoming to a missionary's 未亡人. These are the first 罰金 着せる／賦与するs I have ever had," she said, thinking, and the first flattery. "You'll come? Say, the day after tomorrow, at eleven o'clock?"

"I'll come." She caught 支援する the words—"you know it," and 選ぶd up her bonnet, adjusting it without a ちらりと見ること at either the man or the mirror, and left the house, taking with her the carpetbag in which she meant to 隠す the 瓶／封じ込める of sherry from the 地元の wineshop.

ｧ 11

The volatile Susan was in high spirits. Old Mrs. Rue had returned to Blackheath; she had her own 扶養家族s and 事件／事情／状勢s she could not leave long untroubled, and though she would undoubtedly soon return to her son's house, Susan was never inclined to think of the 未来. The hag has gone, 反映するd Mrs. Sacret, to consider her next move.

She rejoiced with Susan and gave her a light account of the new tenant—"an eccentric fellow, who traveled about—a 肉親，親類d of journeyman painter, who wants a place to keep his canvases and paints. We are taking an 在庫 of my things—a tedious 仕事. I shall go over every morning for an hour or so."

"Oh, I can take you in the carriage, on my way to the park."

"No—I'll walk over. I have several little 事件／事情／状勢s to settle in the 近隣."

"Walk, all that way!" Susan was 乱すd, her 罰金 注目する，もくろむs cast an 控訴，上告ing ちらりと見ること at her friend.

"And I can do some errands for you," said Mrs. Sacret 堅固に. "Match your silks. Make 調査s for the goldfish you 手配中の，お尋ね者. And the aeolian harp for your window—and see 行方不明になる Sermoine for you. And there is the sherry to fetch. I think it would be an excellent 計画（する） for 行方不明になる Sermoine to come and help you with your music," she 追加するd sweetly.

"I don't care about music, really," sighed Susan, with a desolate ちらりと見ること at the grand pianoforte, draped with a pale, yellow silk shawl that 新たな展開d around a bowl of hothouse orchids, chocolate and green patched.

"It is an 雇用 for you, Susan. You are so idle. I cannot be with you always. And when I am not with you, you sit and mope, or read silly novelettes."

"You know that ツバメ doesn't want me to see company, save his friends, and they are so dull and seem to 秘かに調査する on me, and I don't care about it—but pianoforte playing doesn't attract me. Perhaps I might have a little dog—a spaniel?"

"Perhaps. Though they are such noisy, 汚い creatures. The goldfish are better as pets."

"They, too, are dull," 抗議するd Susan timidly.

"What do you want, dear? I can't give my whole time to amusing you." Mrs. Sacret smiled up, gently, from her sewing.

"You said that before—do you want to leave me, Olivia?"

"No. I （機の）カム to help you. At first I gave you all my time. Now, I've some 事件／事情／状勢s of my own to …に出席する to—the chapel people—"

"But you are Church of England, now."

"Yes. But I had friends at the chapel. Then there are members of Frederick's flock in London."

"Bring them here. It would be a 転換."

"Oh, no! That would never do. They would consider it very strange to see me here, in this 高級な. And idleness. For I could not explain what I do for you, Susan. And you would find them dull. That is やめる a favorite word of yours, is it not?"

"I daresay." Susan sighed listlessly. "At least that horrid old woman has gone and I felt in better spirits."

"Why have they fallen again? What do you want, Susan?"

Challenged a second time, Susan turned her lovely, 紅潮／摘発するd 直面する toward her friend and replied with childish abandon. "I want to go away—with someone I love—and be true to myself and have a proper home. いつかs I wish I had been a wicked woman and run away with John. Away—away!"

"Fie, that is a shocking thing to say. You have such loose 原則s, Susan. No wonder Mr. Rue is so watchful and jealous—and his mother, too."

"Yes, they are, Olivia. And you've 認める it. Pray do give me those letters—I don't care what I 支払う／賃金! Just suppose ツバメ or that detestable old woman should get 持つ／拘留する of them!"

"Hush, Susan, you must not get so excited. The letters were written in—fearless innocence—you must not think of them as if they were something evil. Nor 侮辱 me by talking of buying them. They are 安全な with me."

"For pity's sake destroy them!"

"Why, so I shall, as I've 約束d you a dozen times. But I'm not going to do anything theatrical or silly as if these 害のない letters were important. When you have forgotten about them, then I shall 静かに 涙／ほころび them up. So don't tease me about them, Susan."

ｧ 12

Mrs. Sacret 認可するd of the litter in her once neat parlor; the 絵 stand with the shallow drawers, the 取引，協定 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する laden with 大臣の地位s, crayons, sketchbooks and pans of color, the light easel and the large 議長，司会を務める with the horsehair cushion, placed in the corner, 堅固に on a stout 木造の box, with 厚かましさ／高級将校連 corners and padlock.

Mr. Bellis said that this room was suitable for sketches and 製図／抽選s to be made in a plain or garden light, after the manner of a 地図／計画する or heraldic design. Upstairs he had 蓄える／店d his oils and canvases.

"You want to know who I am," he 追加するd with his 冷静な／正味の smile. "And I think you are the only person in London who cares. So I'll tell you. But you must look at me, please. I can't draw you with your 注目する，もくろむs always downcast."

She raised her brilliant hazel ちらりと見ること and trembled as she 機動力のある, under his direction, the raised 議長，司会を務める. It was as if she had dreaded to find him repulsive and had not dared to 直面する some 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd and dreaded horror. But 軍隊d to look at him, she 設立する he was attractive, fascinating, as she had known he was, and the 煙霧 of horror that had clouded her mental image of him and her 見通しs—for every night since she had first met him she had dreamed of him—消えるd. "I don't belong to this 迷宮／迷路 of London," he said 厳粛に. "The houses and streets, miles of them, the stench and the 霧, the smoke and the dirt. When it comes to telling you where I've been all my life—I don't know that I can."

He was older than she had thought at first, but 強健な and healthy with the quick, neat movements of an 競技者; his 着せる／賦与するs were 正確な and his linen fresh.

"I had a good education," he continued, "ran away from college and was disowned. I went 船内に ship as a 青年. And did a number of things. I've searched for gold in California, caught wild horses on the Pampas, driven cattle in Mexico, stayed in large cities and learned to paint. Made money by that. I always 手配中の，お尋ね者 to draw. I see in pictures more easily than words. They are clearer and safer."

"Did you find gold?"

"Yes. But not in California." He selected a sheet of paper and a crayon. "Now I'm neither rich nor poor. Neither tramping, or settled 負かす／撃墜する. Will you please sit with your 長，率いる so, three-４半期/4分の1s to me, your bonnet in your 手渡す—so—"

"This yellow shawl? I shall 除去する it She 解任するd the other yellow shawl on Susan's pianoforte.

"不適切な, you think? I shall not show the color. I need the line."

"Have you no more to relate of yourself?"

"Too much. That is all there is for you, Mrs. Sacret. You will see that I have 保存するd a respectable 外見 にもかかわらず my wanderings."

He did not indeed look like a man who had lived 概略で for years; there was no trace of 副／悪徳行為 or 証拠不十分 in his 直面する, and Mrs. Sacret was able to 認める both from the countenances of passers-by on the city pavements.

"I neither drink to 超過, 賭事 at all, nor smoke," he 発言／述べるd. "So my wits are 公正に／かなり sharp and my 手渡す 公正に／かなり 安定した."

"Have you been long in England? Have you visited your family?"

"Three months. I have no family—no one who cares if I am alive or dead." He smiled cheerfully, pinned the paper to a board and 始める，決める in on the easel. As he began to draw he began to question Mrs. Sacret.

At first she defended herself. "I've nothing to tell. Nothing." She gave a flat 輪郭（を描く） of her life. "That is all."

"What are you doing in Mr. Rue's house?" he asked 静かに, coming to the very 中心 of the very heart of her secret, with the directness of one に引き続いて a guiding thread through a maze.

"I told you. Mrs. Rue is unhappy—"

He interrupted.

"Tell me more. Why not? If you have not come into a fortune as the gossips think—you have had some good fortune lately, after a hard 存在 and a long waiting. You have nothing you say, Mrs. Sacret, except—?"

His 静かな 発言する／表明する and brilliant look that 星／主役にするd a little, as if he 軍隊d his lids up, were so 説得力のある that she almost replied "the letters" and 紅潮／摘発するd at her own 証拠不十分.

"Pray don't pinch your lips so, I am 製図／抽選 them. Why not tell me—your 事件／事情／状勢s? As you have nothing to give I cannot beg or steal anything. I may be gone—in a few days, if I don't get that work in Kent. Perhaps you need a little advice or 慰安. You seem as lonely as I am myself. And you are a very pretty woman to be so unprotected."

These words, not spoken in a flattering トン, stirred in Mrs. Sacret an emotion unknown to her, one so delightful that it 吸収するd her whole 存在, almost to the extent of stifling her native shrewdness.

"There," continued the painter, stepping 支援する from the easel, "that is 十分な for today—you are beginning to lose the 提起する／ポーズをとる." He did not 申し込む／申し出 to 補助装置 her from her raised 議長，司会を務める; she descended carefully, crossed the 床に打ち倒す and stood behind him. There was her likeness, for her to see.

Olivia Sacret he had scrawled across the 底（に届く） of the paper. The 熟考する／考慮する was in red, 黒人／ボイコット and white crayons; every curve of 直面する and 四肢, sweepingly accentuated, the gloss of the hair, the brightness of the 注目する，もくろむs, the grace of throat and 手渡すs 示すd in （疑いを）晴らす lines, the elegance of the 嘆く／悼むing gown lightly touched in. So the missionary's 未亡人 was 明らかにする／漏らすd to herself. She changed as she gazed. "You're clever," she said.

"Yes. I have had to live by my wits. So far they have not failed me."

"You have finished?" she asked. "I thought you would take days—"

"You must come again," he replied, answering her thought. "You do not need the excuse of the portrait—or if you do," he 追加するd carelessly, "say, I still 要求する you to 提起する／ポーズをとる for me."

She was 困らすd because he was so sure of her, but this was a slight blemish on her 増加するing excitement. "What do you want?" she asked.

"Money. Not to hoard. To spend. I live 概略で for years, then I think of 高級な, and somehow find the means for 高級な."

"Through your 絵?"

"No. I told you—this is a 暮らし—not 高級な. I hope to be 雇うd at Lyndbridge House, as I told you. I met Mr. Fox Oldham in Paris where I 展示（する）d a picture. He was on his way to Switzerland with his bride who is not strong—as they say." He 直面するd her suddenly, standing so の近くに that their 武器 almost touched. "You think that you can look after yourself, Mrs. Sacret, but really you are やめる helpless. You know nothing about life at all. Other people have always decided everything for you."

This was, Mrs. Sacret 反映するd, true, though she had never 認める as much before. Her 存在 had followed the pattern 始める，決める by her parents, then that 始める，決める by her husband. When she had been left alone, she had gone on, mechanically trying to 得る a position that would mean a 延長／続編 of the life she had led with Frederick Sacret. Her only 初めの 活動／戦闘 had been to introduce herself into the Rue 世帯 and then she had been hesitant, 効果のない／無能な, not really knowing what to do, what she 手配中の，お尋ね者, at least not 自白するing so much to herself. She thought of the three people she was engaged in 取引，協定ing with and 混乱 blurred their 輪郭（を描く）s and her own 動機s. Nor had she really 直面するd the problem of the letters.

"You are puzzled," 発言／述べるd the painter, 観察するing her closely.

"And not least by you," she replied with a flash of spirit. "I have never met anyone like you before—never had—a chance 知識." She ちらりと見ることd meaningly at his 井戸／弁護士席-形態／調整d, 井戸／弁護士席-kept 手渡す, 残り／休憩（する）ing on the easel. "I don't think I believe your tales of a rough wandering—gold prospecting—wild horse taming—"

"反して I," he interrupted, "believe every word you tell me of yourself—"

"Rut I have told you nothing—save a 明らかにする 輪郭（を描く）—and there is little to tell. I am a simple woman who tries to do the Lord's will."

She 推定する／予想するd a laugh or a sneer, but he was 厳粛に silent. "Good-by," she 追加するd, leaving everything in his 手渡すs.

"Perhaps Mrs. Rue would care for me to sketch her likeness," he 示唆するd. "Will you recommend me?"

"No," she replied at once, though 即時に thinking how Susan would snatch at such a 転換.

"Then I may sketch you again? Or call on you at your friend's house?"

"No—I don't want you at the Old Priory."

"I can produce 信任状," he smiled. "I should not play the vagabond before this respectable family."

Mrs. Sacret 紅潮／摘発するd. She knew this stranger was probably better born and certainly better bred than the Rues, than anyone she had known, save her own father. Indeed, she could 説得する herself that she felt a keen class affinity with the painter, as if they were two aristocrats の中で vulgar people.

"I'll confide in you," she said in a low hurried 発言する／表明する. "It is true that I am oddly alone. Most women have someone—Susan Rue is really my only friend—I am staying with her as a—companion—but I don't take money, of course—only a few 現在のs. Her husband is not 肉親，親類d to her—he wants me to leave—so does his mother. I don't やめる know what to do."

"Please sit 負かす／撃墜する." He brought 今後 one of her own shabby 議長，司会を務めるs.

"No—I shall go in a moment. It is an—unpleasant position—but I have no 資源s. I thought if—Susan left her husband—we might go abroad together. She is very rich. Her husband 持つ／拘留するs most of her money. I want her to get it 支援する."

She 投機・賭けるd to ちらりと見ること at the painter. He was looking at her from his dark 注目する，もくろむs against which the 攻撃するs shone 厚い gold. There was a 質 in his agreeable 直面する she had never seen in a human countenance before; she could not 指名する it; to her it was a fascination not to be resisted, as if delights hitherto unknown were suddenly and richly 申し込む／申し出d to her. He smiled.

"Does Mrs. Rue wish you to stay?"

"I suppose so. She 申し込む／申し出d me two hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs a year. Of course I could not take it."

"You are 取引，協定ing," he replied at once, "with a woman not only very foolish, but very 脅すd."

Mrs. Sacret knew that she was 存在 軍隊d faster and さらに先に than she wished. But she could not resist. "I have some old letters of hers. やめる 害のない, I 保証する you. I never placed any importance on them. I kept them for 感情."

"I understand perfectly. Mrs. Rue wants you to destroy them?"

"Yes. Of course I shall do so. I only kept them to show her—how trifling they are."

"But 安全に? Locked up?"

"Yes—with other things."

"Mr. Rue 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs nothing?"

"No. But his mother does. A 発射 in the dark. She is a horrid woman. She tried to 賄賂 me to give up—letters. I 認める nothing."

"She—dislikes—her daughter-in-法律?"

"Loathes her—out of pure jealousy and spite. She does not know what to do. She doesn't want a 分離 as that would mean returning Susan's money."

"How tedious all this is for you, Mrs. Sacret," said 示す Bellis in a トン so 静かな as to be touched by tenderness. "You must 許す me to help you. With advice—"

"I only want to 保護する Susan. She is so afraid of Mr. Rue.

"Why?"

Mrs. Sacret, 速く and looking 負かす／撃墜する, recounted her friend's simple history.

The painter showed a courteous 利益／興味: He might have been a cousin 特権d to 申し込む／申し出 good advice to a gentlewoman in 苦しめる. He said that he would think the 事柄 over and give Mrs. Sacret the result of his reflections—in a few days' time—if she could call for a retouching of her sketch.

When she 設立する herself walking toward the Old Priory again Mrs. Sacret realized that she had agreed to everything he had said and 明らかにする／漏らすd all her secrets to him. Her 知能 was ashamed, even alarmed, but her heart had 降伏するd without 条件.

ｧ 13

Susan was 誘発するd from the mental 不快s of her drifting days by reading in the Morning 地位，任命する of the death of Lady Curle. Mrs. Sacret had to 発揮する her 十分な 当局 to 抑制（する） her friend's 爆発. Casting off her いつかs 激しい, いつかs frivolous apathy, the desperate young woman 宣言するd she must and would have a 離婚 and marry "the only man I ever loved." Mrs. Sacret only soothed this dangerous fury by 約束ing all possible help in the 未来—"If only you will be a little reasonable now, Susan."

"But he may marry again. He doesn't know that I still care. Oh, why was I so 迅速な! I should have waited. The doctors told me that Elizabeth Curle might live for years! And we were 存在 talked of. The only way to silence people seemed to get married again."

"I don't understand thinking so much of respectability if one—is in love," said Mrs. Sacret unguardedly.

"I was a fool!" cried Susan, with unusual and 予期しない vehemence. "Now I don't care—I'd run away with him tomorrow—and end all this pretense and dreadful 恐れる. Yes, and then I shouldn't care about the letters."

Mrs. Sacret felt her world dwindle about her, everything to which she had become used in the last six months fade and 消える and she standing in her old 淡褐色 and shabby 嘆く／悼むing in the mean little house in Minton Street, searching the newspaper for SITUATIONS VACANT. Her brilliant hazel 注目する，もくろむs sparkled with excitement. She took Susan by the shoulders and shook her until her pretty gold trinkets 動揺させるd.

"Do be sensible. Why have a horrid スキャンダル and be 削減（する） by everyone? Besides it would be wicked. And Sir John wouldn't like it. Men don't. Mr. Rue might never 離婚 you—out of spite."

Under the 軍隊 of these 早い arguments and her friend's vivid ちらりと見ること, Susan controlled herself—and looked with a wild hope at the 年上の woman.

"Are you going to 示唆する something, Olivia?"

"Yes." Mrs. Sacret relaxed her 持つ／拘留する on Susan, who dropped into the 向こうずねing satin 議長，司会を務める by the bed. "Of course. A number of things. But be 慎重な. Give me time. That 汚い old woman will also see this death 発表するd—and you must be so careful—"

"I'm 疲れた／うんざりした of 存在 careful," 抗議するd Susan. "I shall speak 率直に to ツバメ. He was fond of me once. He might let me 離婚 him. It can be done, I think, arranged—"

"Yes, I'm sure it can. But you must not 示唆する it to Mr. Rue—not yet. Why, he would be furious! He would see at once that it was because of Lady Curle's death—"

"That is what I want to tell him."

"It would be lunatic—do, pray, be advised by me."

Susan's lovely 注目する，もくろむs gazed anxiously into her friend's 意図 直面する. "I wish I could be sure of you, Olivia. You are so different from what you were. Like a changeling," she murmured 真面目に. "And those letters—"

"Oh, don't について言及する those again! I thought you had forgotten them!"

"Have you destroyed them?"

"Yes. I think so. I don't really remember. They are of no importance. And why are you afraid of a few 害のない letters, Susan, when you say you are ready to leave your husband and run away with a man whose wife is just dead?"

Susan wavered, then began to weep. Mrs. Sacret 圧力（をかける）d her advantage.

"Do leave it to me. I'll see Sir John for you, if you wish, and sound his mind. That would he much wiser than 令状ing any more letters. I could communicate with him from Minton Street. My tenant is very 強いるing."

As this 早い 計画（する） was 広げるd, Susan 静めるd herself and submitted to the superior 知恵 and 資源 of her friend, and soon her simple mind, sanguine にもかかわらず her misfortunes, foresaw a 静かな severance of her tie to ツバメ Rue and a 出発 for some ばく然と distant land with the man who had been an obsession with her for so long.

Mrs. Sacret, with an 強調 that was almost 猛烈な／残忍な, impressed on her the 完全にする need for decorum and prudence and 急いでd away to 捜し出す the advice of 示す Bellis. Their 関係 was still formal, but their unspoken intimacy was perfect. They had understood one another, Olivia Sacret believed, since they had first met, and this though he knew all her story and she knew little of his, and that little 内密に disbelieved. She did not see him very frequently, as he was engaged on mural 絵s in Lyndbridge House, and stayed in Kent for several days at a time, but she had kept a 重要な to her house, and frequently went there in his absence to look at the crayon sketch of herself, always left for her to see. In this charming portrait she could read his opinion of her, the flattery and caresses implicit in his manner toward her, whenever he spoke to her or listened to her whispered account of her 事件／事情／状勢s. She had not had much to tell him since they had first met a month ago. He 伝えるd to her, more by 有望な and searching looks and overtones to his speech than by direct words, his advice that she should do nothing save wait on events and ingratiate herself as much as possible with Susan Rue—for her own sake, of course. Old Mrs. Rue was also 持つ／拘留するing her 手渡す; she remained at Blackheath where her son visited her frequently, and Susan, relieved to be rid of her, was 満足させるd. But Mrs. Sacret never forgot her 用心深い enemy.

In her pearl-colored 衣装 of half 嘆く／悼むing, elegantly flounced, Olivia Sacret was leaving the Old Priory, when the maid 急いでd after her, and said that Mr. Rue requested her presence in the library. She was 悩ますd, as a 延期する would make a visit to Minton Street impossible. She could not call on the painter at a late hour, the neighbors gaped as it was; not that Mrs. Sacret was 悩ますd by this unmannerly curiosity, but Mr. Bellis had gently advised her to 持続する a 完全にする discretion.

A recollection of this advice sent her to the 支援する of the house where the master of the Old Priory sat gloomily before the 激しい 事例／患者s of 調書をとる／予約するs in 罰金 始める，決めるs of 基準 authors that no member of his family had ever read.

In this dull, 正確な room, furnished with the 冷淡な taste of an upholsterer, was a door that led to 有望な beauty, the glasshouse that was ツバメ's 長，指導者 楽しみ.

Olivia Sacret, 匂いをかぐing the タバコ ガス／煙s in the の近くに 空気／公表する, looked at once at the vista of leaves and flowers, all filled with light and color that showed through the glass doors. Though she had become used to the rich 工場／植物s that adorned the sumptuous, ugly rooms of the Old Priory, never before had she been in the library, usually locked, and never visited the 温室s, nor seen the rarest of the flowers that bloomed there.

Now these showed—an intricate design of blended bud, blossom and foliage—behind the fair 長，率いる of ツバメ Rue, who sat in a leather armchair beside the empty 黒人／ボイコット-leaded grate and cumbersome, glaring white marble mantelpiece that supported two bronze Arab horsemen and a 厚かましさ／高級将校連 clock above a 人物／姿／数字 of old "Father Time" pointing to the dial.

Mr. Rue rose, stubbed out his cigar and stiffly placed a 議長，司会を務める for Mrs. Sacret.

"I have an 任命," she murmured, spreading out the frills of the expensive gown Susan had paid for.

"I'm sorry. I won't 拘留する you long, Mrs. Sacret."

She looked up はっきりと at his トン. It was 懐柔的な, almost pleading.

"Why, what can you have to say to me, Mr. Rue?" Her mischievous sense of 力／強力にする 誘発するd her to 追加する, "Do you wish to show me your flowers?"

"No—but—are you 利益／興味d?" He became animated and the sullen 表現 she so disliked 消えるd from his 激しい 直面する.

"Oh, yes; you have been 栄誉（を受ける）d with several メダルs, I believe?"

"I have. The last from the Ghent Salon d'Hiver. I should like to go to the next 陳列する，発揮する given by the horticultural society of that city—a delightful place. My mother and I used to go there every year. The 国民s are so fond of flowers they 一般的に wear a bloom to church. Many of these 工場／植物s are but mechanic's flowers now. But I prize them for their beauty." He nervously 示すd the glowing 野外劇／豪華な行列 through the glass doors. "You see only orchids there, Chinese and eastern varieties—some with medicinal 所有物／資産／財産s, beyond in a more 穏健な heat I grow native flowers—only in lustrous perfection—甘い ロケット／急騰する, or dame's violet, for example, and the old red rose pink that a 厳しい winter some years ago nearly （判決などを）下すd extinct." Then 解任するing the 目的 of this interview, he said hurriedly, "Mrs. Sacret, if I ever said anything to 感情を害する／違反する you, I 悔いる it and ask your 容赦."

"Why, you never did, I'm sure, Mr. Rue. Only I knew you rather dislike having me here—in the Old Priory."

"That is what I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to talk to you about," he answered hurriedly. "I want to say that I understand your 肉親，親類d 意向s toward Susan. No 疑問 I've given her some 原因（となる） for （民事の）告訴. I'm a plain fellow, with wretched health—we quarrel a good 取引，協定, as you've seen for yourself. But underneath, I'm very fond of Susan."

"Yes?" She would not give him any 激励, she enjoyed his discomfiture and wished to 長引かせる it.

"And if we could be left alone—we'd be happy yet, Mrs. Sacret."

His 誠実 gave some gloss of dignity to his commonplace words, the 紅潮／摘発する in his cheeks 軟化するd his usual わずかに livid color, he did not look disagreeable as he pleaded with Olivia Sacret. She compared him, curiously, with the painter of Minton Street. And 大いに to his disadvantage.

"Your mother, Mr. Rue," she 発言／述べるd, "干渉するs far too much between you and Susan—speak to her—not to me."

"My mother is not very often here, Mrs. Sacret; if I request it, she will remain away altogether. My wish is to take Susan abroad with me."

He had 受託するd so much impertinence from her that she 投機・賭けるd on その上の insolence.

"Susan will have to look after an 無効の?" she questioned ironically.

"If I were a little happier, I should be better in health," he replied. Mrs. Sacret thought mechanically, It is my 義務 to help in the 仲直り of husband and wife. But is it fair to Susan to 軍隊 her 支援する on to this man?

"I entreat you," he 追加するd, peering at her downcast 直面する. "Leave us. I 尊敬（する）・点 your 動機s in remaining here, your friendship for Susan—but you are 廃虚ing our chances of happiness."

"They had gone before I （機の）カム, Mr. Rue."

"No," he replied 熱心に, "that is not so." He rose and began to walk up and 負かす／撃墜する the thickly carpeted 床に打ち倒す. "You have shut Susan away from me. いつかs it seems as if you had some 持つ／拘留する over her—"

The word his mother had used—but this was not even a 無作為の 発射. ツバメ Rue was 完全に unsuspicious, jealous as he might be, of the 存在 of the letters at the 底（に届く） of Mrs. Sacret's locked drawer. She knew that, at once.

"I am aware," he continued with an 成果／努力, "that Susan had an attachment to a married man whose wife has lately died. This has 乱すd her very much. I don't want to lose her. Won't you help me, by 説得するing her to come abroad with me?"

Again Mrs. Sacret saw all her usurped splendors stripped from her, the world she had come, so easily and so 速く, to look upon as her own, sailing away, leaving her poor, unwanted, obscure. She 解任するd the painter of Minton Street and his talk of 高級な, the need he felt for what money alone could procure. And here was her one chance of money—Susan—to be snatched from her suddenly.

ツバメ Rue guessed some of her thoughts; he said, with a clumsy hesitation, "I should like to 補償する you for any inconvenience—"

"You could not 補償する me," she replied truthfully, "for the loss of Susan's friendship."

"Why do you want to remain here?" he asked 直接／まっすぐに, 星／主役にするing at her, his greenish yellow 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd under the sandy 攻撃するs. "You must have had some sort of a life before you （機の）カム here, by chance, as it seemed. Have you no 存在 of your own? No other 利益／興味s, nor friends?"

Mrs. Sacret ignored these questions. She rose. Her 長，率いる was beginning to ache. The 空気／公表する of the room was の近くに as if some of the heated 空気／公表する from the 温室 seeped through the glass doors.

"It 残り／休憩（する）s with Susan to keep me or to send me away."

"You know that is not true. You have some 力／強力にする over her, if it is only the 力／強力にする of a strong nature over a weak one." He paused, then 追加するd with 深い feeling, "I have a foreboding that some dreadful evil will come of it if you stay here—some evil for all of us."

"How could it かもしれない!" Olivia Sacret laughed pleasantly. "Sick fancies, Mr. Rue."

"I still ask you to leave the Old Priory."

She lowered her graceful 長，率いる.

"I must do as my 良心 企て，努力，提案s me," she murmured and turned to leave the room. The young man seemed to take these words as, at least, a 譲歩. He quickly opened the door of the 温室 and brought out a small 工場／植物 in a clean マリファナ. "The 枢機けい／主要な flower, Mrs. Sacret—観察する the elegant 形態／調整 and the brilliant puce and scarlet. It is the splendid or 向こうずねing lobelia. Most 独特の of blooms. It reminds me of you though you are in 嘆く／悼むing. Please 受託する it for your room."

Mrs. Sacret was startled by this flash of—perception? imagination? She might have 推定する／予想するd that 示す Bellis would compare her to the vivid bloom—never ツバメ Rue. He took her raised color and 滞るing thanks for his gift as a 調印する of 親切 and 圧力（をかける）ing the 手渡す into which he had placed the マリファナ, he 追加するd, in a トン of nervous 切望, "And, pray, Mrs. Sacret, don't give Susan, poor, dear Susan, 化学製品 シャンペン酒, or grocer's sherry, in your room; indeed, it is bad for her—and useless to 支配（する）／統制する her ワイン at （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する if she gets it 内密に."

Olivia Sacret was profoundly shocked, not only by 審理，公聴会 something she considered disgusting put into words, but by the 現実化 that her trick—she saw it herself as that, a mean servant's trick—had been discovered. The lobelia trembled in her 手渡す.

"I don't know what you mean." She blushed more 深く，強烈に as she gave the 決まりきった仕事 嘘（をつく）, and wondered 激しく which of the housemaids had 秘かに調査するd on and betrayed her. ツバメ Rue 解決するd this 疑問 by 説:

"Susan told me herself. Susan tells me everything in time, Mrs. Sacret."

Not about the letters, she thought, 回復するing her self-所有／入手 and 説 aloud, "Oh, how oddly you talk! I have just a little medicinal ワイン in my room! I を煩う the megrims and facial neuralgia, as you do, Mr. Rue. Why shouldn't I dose myself, as you do?"

The pale young man did not take 罪／違反.

"It is my 神経s," he said, as if in self-excuse.

Mrs. Sacret escaped, 審理，公聴会 behind her his low, わずかに 厳しい, insistent 発言する／表明する, bidding her "consider his request."

ｧ 14

The missionary's 未亡人, excited and distracted, placed the potted lobelia on her dressing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and 急いでd away to Minton Street, becoming hot and 紅潮／摘発するd from 早い walking through the June afternoon.

The painter was in Kent, 遂行する／発効させるing the 塀で囲む 絵 at Lyndbridge House, but Mrs. Sacret felt that she would 伸び（る） some 慰安 in her 窮地 from gazing at the crayon portrait that showed her as the woman she would like to be. She could not 解決する the problem before her. Should she leave the Old Priory and, 残り／休憩（する）d and 強化するd as she was, try to make some life of her own, no 疑問 with the help of a handsome 現在の from Susan; or should she 反抗する ツバメ Rue and use her 持つ／拘留する over his wife to remain in his house? And if she did, on what 条件? And how was she to を取り引きする that watchful enemy, old Mrs. Rue? And was she to use her 影響（力） over Susan to 説得する her to leave her husband or to stay with him, and correspond with, and かもしれない 会合，会う, Sir John Curie?

Mrs. Sacret 直面するd that 妥協 with her own rigid 良心. She knew that Susan was desperate with the 無謀な despair of a feeble creature, and that now that Elizabeth Curie was dead, nothing would keep her 静かな but some 接触する with the only person in the world for whom she cared. Mrs. Sacret 定評のある Susan's passion as she would not have 定評のある it a short while before; she knew that it was not a silly woman's whim, but something powerful, to be reckoned with. She 解任するd that she had even 約束d to 捜し出す out and speak with Sir John Curle, and in her recently 高めるd sense of 力／強力にする she did not feel afraid to do this. She even enjoyed the prospect of 直面するing this, to her, important person, with his secrets in her 所有／入手. Would he, also, be 脅すd at the knowledge that she held Susan's 害のない letters?

Mrs. Sacret entered the little house to find that 示す Bellis was in the 前線 parlor, lighting a candle, in 前線 of which he had placed a bowl of water. The first dusk obscured the ugliness of the room. Mrs. Sacret, breathing quickly, stood on the threshold and 解除するd her 隠す.

"I did not know you were here, Mr. Bellis."

His pleasant 発言する／表明する mocked her 形式順守.

"I returned 突然に, Mrs. Sacret. I have received a （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限 to paint a miniature of Mrs. Fox Oldham. She fades and may never see Lyndbridge House."

Olivia Sacret was not 影響する／感情d by this remote 悲劇. Never had she felt so 十分な of life. The illness of a stranger was nothing to her. Without preamble she 関係のある to the painter her interview with ツバメ Rue, and looked at him, like a pupil looking at a master.

He seemed to 受託する this position 自然に and 発言／述べるd:

"Certainly you must not leave the Old Priory. Your 影響（力） over this foolish woman is your greatest 資産. What else have you The question was put gently, but had a 残虐な 辛勝する／優位.

"Nothing, indeed," she replied cynically; then her former disguises clung and she 追加するd, "But I stay out of friendship for Susan—who is in a cruel position."

The painter put 負かす／撃墜する his 罰金 小衝突s and adjusted the bowl of water so that the soft candlelight, with no glare, fell on a square of ivory; beside it was a faint crayon sketch of a feeble, pretty woman in a frilled white gown.

"Give me something 価値（がある） while to do, Mrs. Sacret," he 発言／述べるd, "and I shall stay in England. If not, I'll be away again as soon as this 塀で囲む 絵 is finished. What is the 料金? Very little. But 十分な to 支払う／賃金 my passage to South America."

Olivia Sacret felt her spirits 沈む as they had sunk, with a sickening qualm, when Susan had wildly spoken of casting off her 力／強力にする and running away with Sir John Curie, as she had felt when ツバメ Rue had begged her to 影響 a 仲直り with his wife. She saw herself utterly forlorn, without an 利益／興味 in life. Watching her, he laughed pleasantly.

"I've met you, Mrs. Sacret, as I've met many another 半端物 知識. We might be useful to one another—for a while. But you are very inexperienced and must take my advice."

"I shall do so—thankfully."

He held out his 手渡す.

"Give me those 重要なs."

She obeyed in silence.

"I rent the house," he said in an agreeable トン, "and must be the master. I did not know that you kept 重要なs. Do you often come here?"

"Once or twice—only to look at my portrait—never beyond this room."

The painter pocketed the 重要なs.

"The 状況／情勢 at the Old Priory 利益／興味s me," he 発言／述べるd. "A jealous husband, an erring wife—"

"Oh, I did not say that of Susan! Not erring!"

"The 成分s of a tenth-率 farce," he smiled. "What does it 事柄? Our point is your 力／強力にする over this foolish woman."

Mrs. Sacret sank into the beehive 議長，司会を務める by the model's 王位. "Our point," he said; did that mean that he would stay and be friendly with her? She could not care for much else.

"You are する権利を与えるd to some of her fortune," he continued. "Do not hesitate to take what you can—something more than a comfortable home."

"する権利を与えるd?"

"Yes. You have good looks—wits—elegance. Our social system is very elastic, my dear Mrs. Sacret. It 許すs a good 取引，協定 of 範囲 for genteel adventurers, like you and me. It has no room and no pity for the weakling and the coward. Fortune, good or ill, 生じるs you," he 追加するd lightly, "（許可，名誉などを）与えるing to what you are. People are happy—or unhappy—because of what they are," he 強調するd. "Have you ever thought of that? People even get 殺人d because of what they are."

Mrs. Sacret laughed. "I was not thinking of 罪，犯罪—"

"There is a 激しい 宣告，判決 for ゆすり，恐喝."

That jarred. She 紅潮／摘発するd and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd her 長，率いる.

"Oh, if you think that I—"

"Will you 許す me to read those letters?" he interrupted. "Not that their contents 事柄 much, as long as she is afraid of them."

"You 約束d your advice; what is it

"Consider your own 利益／興味. You have nothing to 伸び（る） from this spiteful old woman and her sickly son. You must work for a 離婚. Once your friend is married to a rich baronet—and with your help—they will both be 感謝する and look after you. And that will be safer than ゆすり，恐喝."

"I agree. But ツバメ Rue has 控訴，上告d to me not to do just that. In his way, I think he is truly fond of Susan. He doesn't want to let her go."

"You must work on him until he does. Perhaps show him the letters—if they are 妥協ing enough to disgust him with her—"

"Of course not. They are 害のない or I should not have kept them."

"As you cannot 説得する her to elope with her lover, 説得する her husband to a 離婚," 示唆するd 示す Bellis, bending his handsome 長，率いる toward the bowl of water, so that his （疑いを）晴らす features were 輪郭（を描く）d in soft light and the ripples of his 厚い, coarse hair were 辛勝する／優位d with dark gold. "First, get all you can from her—you have a 権利 to all she can give. 反映する that she will 借りがある her entire happiness to you."

"Do you know anything of Sir John Curle?"

"A shrewd question. I made 調査s about him when you first について言及するd him. He is a baronet, rich, with a 罰金 広い地所 in Devonshire and a house in Belgrave Square—forty years old, or so. Not a man of any distinction, or 長所—a country squire of good family. A wretched marriage—no children—"

"Perhaps he has forgotten Susan—or tired of her—"

"You must find out. Has she not asked you to call on him? You can do so. And 伸び（る） his good will by について言及するing that you have some indiscreet letters that you 辞退する to show to Mr. Rue or his mother."

"The letters are not indiscreet. And Sir John Curie will think I should destroy them if I care for Susan."

"You must show him that you have 力／強力にする and your price," replied the painter. "You cannot come out of this 事件／事情／状勢 with entire credit."

This was too frank for Olivia Sacret; hypocrisy was almost as 深い as life itself with her; she 抗議するd, rose and appeared to be 出発／死ing, when he stayed her with a brusque 発言／述べる.

"Time is too short for us to 盗品故買者 無期限に／不明確に. Either you must 満足させる your Nonconformist 良心 by returning the letters to Mrs. Rue and leaving her house and taking your place の中で other decent 未亡人s looking for work; or you must use the chance of 慰安—高級な—that has come your way, without any pretense—at least to me."

She still struggled against his 影響（力）.

"Susan would help me—as a friend—she needs me."

"Without knowing Mrs. Rue I can 保証する you that you arc wrong. Your only 持つ／拘留する on her is 恐れる—once she had the letters she would never wish to see you again."

Mrs. Sacret knew that this was true. 避けるing that 問題／発行する, she asked:

"What do you mean—I am to have no pretense with you? And why that word '持つ／拘留する'—they all say that—and I have no '持つ／拘留する' over Susan. The letters are やめる 害のない." She always used the same adjective about the letters.

"You need my advice," replied 示す Bellis 真面目に. "You are やめる inexperienced, though you have natural talents—that is why you must be frank with me. You have no other protector or friend. As for the letters, of course they are not 害のない—and you know it."

"Indeed I do not!" exclaimed Mrs. Sacret.

"Why is she 脅すd? Probably she was Sir John Curle's mistress."

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Olivia' Sacret, shocked, truthful and 紅潮／摘発するd.

"Assume as much when you 会合，会う the noble baronet," advised the painter, unmoved. "And see if he does not betray himself. Do not 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 her 完全な, you might 運動 the silly creature frantic. Say nothing to old Mrs. Rue, she cannot 支払う／賃金 high enough for this secret—"

Olivia sprang up, walked up and 負かす／撃墜する the boards and drugget, 抗議するing again, blushing, stammering, in 衝突 with herself. All this man 示唆するd was an 乱暴／暴力を加える to her 条約s, his direct methods an affront to her own slow, 用心深い, hypocritical ways of 取引，協定ing with Susan and Susan's husband. But she liked the man and he was 申し込む／申し出ing her a 共同 that she already felt she could not 耐える to lose. He coolly touched in the 輪郭（を描く）s of the miniature, working carefully on the ivory that he 見解（をとる）d through the bowl of water. When she paused, breathless and shivering, by the model's 議長，司会を務める on the trunk, he gently asked her what she 手配中の，お尋ね者 from life. And when she was silent, he 追加するd, "I suppose you have never dared to ask yourself that question. You've been cheated from the first."

"Cheated?" she asked, fascinated.

He turned toward her, leaving his work, and spoke forcefully, in his melodious and insinuating 発言する／表明する; she saw herself in his words as she had seen herself in his portrait. By then he had drawn from her all her story and he sketched this skillfully, as if he was using a sable 小衝突 on ivory. Mrs. Sacret listened to herself 明らかにする／漏らすd as a lovely, gifted creature sacrificed to misfortune and the selfishness of others. Enthralled, the missionary's 未亡人 listened to this tale of a beautiful girl born to a shiftless father who had married beneath him, 奪うd of her birthright, humiliated by poverty, sent to a school where she was the drudge of 豊富な fools like Susan, married to a 哀れな 無効の Dissenter before she knew her own value—before she knew anything—sent out to Jamaica to toil の中で Negroes, to nurse a peevish dying man, to 危険 her own health in a dangerous 気候, to return home, 未亡人d, penniless, friendless, to 直面する a degrading struggle for mere 存在.

This narrative threw a light on the past that Olivia Sacret had not seen before, but now she did not 否定する the facts thus 明らかにする／漏らすd. Her father must have been incompetent, he could have placed her の中で his own class. He certainly was a 失敗 and probably drank too much whisky—she was sure she could remember that now the painter hinted as much. Her mother had been a fool, too, ありふれた and vain, jealous, of course, of her daughter. Her parents should have done better for her. She felt now as if she could never 許す them. It had been disgraceful, too, sending her to a good school, then taking her away because of an 無（不）能 to 支払う／賃金 the 料金s. She had been the most brilliant pupil but despised because she was so shabby and penniless and ashamed of her home. Her marriage, too, she should never have been 許すd to make. Her cheeks glowed, her downcast 注目する，もくろむs sparkled, she felt as if she had been 大いに wronged, 失望させるd—as the painter had 宣言するd with such 強調—"cheated."

When he softly ended his talk, and returned to his work she ちらりと見ることd at the portrait of herself—there it was for her to see the sort of woman who had been so ruthlessly sacrificed to the 薄暗い jealousies, stupidities, 失敗s of those who should have seen that she had her chances. "Only one life that we are sure of," 発言／述べるd the painter without ちらりと見ることing up. "And you are no longer a girl."

"You mean there isn't much time?"

"正確に," he smiled, looking as 十分な at her as it seemed in his 力／強力にする to look at anyone, for his handsome 注目する，もくろむs had a わずかに 上向き, 星／主役にするing gaze as if 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on some point above the usual 範囲 of those who 直面する their fellows. "You have been lucky. You can be 井戸／弁護士席 paid for doing a service to a friend. Help Mrs. Rue to get her 離婚. When she is Lady Curle you will be rewarded."

"Then she will not need to reward me," said Mrs. Sacret, too fascinated to notice that this was a conspirators' conversation, or to resent the blunt words "井戸／弁護士席 paid" and "rewarded."

"She will always need you," he answered. "For a timid 従来の woman like Susan Rue will never dare to 直面する （危険などに）さらす—even after her—特に after—her third marriage. You must always keep the letters and your 暮らし will be 保証するd. You are 取引，協定ing with 豊富な people. It is only fair that this pampered silly creature should 支払う／賃金 井戸／弁護士席 for keeping her place in society. One that she would lose if the letters were made public. Surely you, who have never had anything, do not scruple to take some of her superfluity from a woman who has always had everything?"

"No, I do not," replied Mrs. Sacret 積極性. "Tell me what I must do."

He at once gave her her 指示／教授／教育s. She listened dutifully. There did not appear to her to be anything wrong in what he 提案するd. He had shown her what was 借りがあるing to her, she 手配中の，お尋ね者 to snatch it with both 手渡すs. She ちらりと見ることd at the feeble sketch of the fading bride, not with pity but with horror. That woman might not live to enjoy the mansion 存在 用意が出来ている for her—neither might she, Olivia Sacret, unless she was quick and careful, live to know anything but poverty and 失敗. The mean little room was dignified by the 影をつくる／尾行するs, the 限定するing 塀で囲むs were not 明白な, the candle softly glowing through the bowl of water might have been a 星／主役にする 向こうずねing in immensity. The painter took her 手渡す and gently 勧めるd her to return to the Old Priory. "It is getting late and you must do nothing unusual."

She felt eager to obey his will, 満足させるd with his 暗示するd 賞賛, unaware that he had 約束d her nothing and told her nothing more of himself, oblivious that she had not believed what he had told her. "Bring me the letters," he said and she agreed, 信用ing him as a master. They left the house and walked to the corner of Minton Street together. The gas lamp cast a haloed light into the 空気／公表する and a circle of light の上に the pavement. They paused to say "good night."

Smiling as if to himself at a pleasant thought, 示す Bellis said: "Remember that the husband is another sick man—you know how to humor them. 伸び（る） his 信用／信任 by little attentions, such as an 利益／興味 in his 薬／医学s—you know how much that means to these sickly creatures."

"Oh, I know!" replied Mrs. Sacret in a low 発言する／表明する. "I am so tired of nursing, but I shall do what I can for poor Mr. Rue. It won't be for long—"

"Not for long," he 保証するd her, raised his 手渡す to his dark 有望な hair and turned away along the poor little street.

ｧ 15

"How 井戸／弁護士席 you look!" exclaimed Susan. "It seems absurd for you to wear even half 嘆く／悼むing. You are a different person since you （機の）カム here."

"I was 主要な a very dull 存在—there was nothing in it all," murmured the 未亡人. "I don't know how I 耐えるd it—I was really dying, I think—in my mind and spirit."

"It was the life you chose," said Mrs. Rue curiously.

"Chose! I never had a chance! I 簡単に did not know what was in the world!" Olivia Sacret laughed. "But we must consider your 事件／事情／状勢s, not 地雷. I want to help you. I've been thinking it all over and I feel sure you ought to have a 離婚 and marry Sir John Curle."

Susan colored beautifully, golden and rosy she smiled on her friend. The two ladies were walking in the garden at the 支援する of the ponderous ugly house. The （人が）群がるd trees, straggling through dusty bushes to the light, shaded them, the newly raked gravel crunched beneath their thin slippers.

"Will ツバメ 同意?" sighed Susan. "いつかs I think he is still fond of me—and I have not the heart—"

Olivia Sacret remembered Mr. Rue's formal 控訴，上告—he could ask me what he did ask and never tell his wife he is "still fond" of her, she thought contemptuously; aloud she 宣言するd, "You must not be so sentimental, Susan. Mr. Rue would be delighted to return to Blackheath—特に if you 許すd him to keep some of your money."

"Oh, I would do that. John is a 豊富な man."

"You seem sure of him," whispered Mrs. Sacret. "Shall I see him for you?"

"There is no need," answered her friend 簡単に. "I wrote to him—and he replied at once—and we are sure of one another."

Mrs. Sacret felt angry. A foolish woman like Susan, with the direct 活動／戦闘 of passion, had forestalled her intrigues—even the clever painter had not thought of this.

"Do be careful," she advised はっきりと. "You are so 無謀な and careless. I suppose you have not seen him?"

"No."

"And has he any suggestion to make?"

"He will do anything I wish. And it must be, as you say, dearest, a 離婚. But oh, I am sorry for ツバメ and afraid of him, and dare not speak!"

"I shall do that for you, Susan. But do, pray, be a little 慎重な. Of course you are not seeing Sir John?"

"No—I don't know what to do. I could not 直面する any 不名誉. A 離婚 is a horrid thing. But there are ways, you said so yourself. ツバメ could give me a 離婚—with sharp lawyers—"

"Yes, one can cheat and let the man have the 非難する," agreed Mrs. Sacret sweetly. "I don't really know the 詳細（に述べる）s, I've never talked of such 事柄s. Mr. Rue would know. I'll speak to him—since you are afraid."

"Would you?" asked Susan 熱望して. "Then you are truly my friend." She sighed, as if 緩和するd of a 重荷（を負わせる）. "Then, the letters won't 事柄," she 追加するd ingenuously. "As you will do this for me you must be my friend and you will give them to me—now. You have punished me enough for trying to take them."

"How you tease about the letters! They never did 事柄. What will you care when you are Lady Curle?"

Susan shrank from this coarseness of which the 未亡人 seemed unaware. She replied hurriedly:

"I know I shan't be 井戸／弁護士席 thought of—I couldn't go to 法廷，裁判所, or anything like that—but I should be 尊敬（する）・点d—not 不名誉d; we should go abroad and then live in the country, and the talk would blow over—but as long as the letters were there I should be afraid."

示す Bellis was 権利, Mrs. Sacret thought triumphantly. They will be a 持つ／拘留する over her—all her life.

Slipping her arm affectionately through that of Susan's, she said, with a smile in her hazel 注目する，もくろむs and on her pretty lips, "You must 信用 me. And—I was thinking, Susan. I believe I せねばならない have the 正規の／正選手 salary you 示唆するd. I can't be shabby and without a penny and I don't like to ask you for everything."

"You are staying?" asked Susan, pausing in her walk.

"For the 現在の. You want me, don't you? To speak to your husband—to manage old Mrs. Rue—to be a companion—There can't be any gossip about you while you have a respectable missionary's 未亡人 in your house. Shall we say two hundred and fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs a year?"

"Of course—if you wish—"

"Then—that diamond bracelet you 申し込む／申し出d me. I am leaving off 嘆く／悼むing next week and could wear it."

ｧ 16

Mrs. Sacret saw her 指示／教授／教育s as （疑いを）晴らす and her 仕事 as 平易な. She had to 説得する ツバメ Rue to 許す his wife to 離婚 him in order that she might, after a decorous interval, marry Sir John Curle, and for this service she would 需要・要求する a lifetime's support, countenance and friendship from two 豊富な people. She might also 得る a handsome gift from old Mrs. Rue for helping her son to his 解放（する） and perhaps even from Mr. Rue himself for her delicate offices in this 苦しめるing 事件／事情／状勢. Whatever she 伸び（る）d she would 株 with the painter—this was as much as she knew as regards her master.

The missionary's 未亡人 no longer thought of God, hardly of the しつけ that had hitherto formed her. The 衝撃 of a powerful personality—for so she thought of the painter—had shocked her out of what were very superficial habits of mind, of spirit and even of 団体／死体, for she no longer kept her charming 注目する，もくろむs downcast, her 手渡すs either 占領するd or in her （競技場の）トラック一周. Her steps were 解放する／自由な, her gestures 平易な, her hazel-colored hair flowed loosely in a 罰金 逮捕する, without a 未亡人's cap to disguise the pretty curls.

Mr. Rue's chronic ill-health （機の）カム to a 危機. He was in bed for a few days and his usual 内科医, Dr. Virtue, called, 宣言するd his 病気 was "a nervous （民事の）告訴," 定める／命ずるd soothing 薬／医学s and 残り／休憩（する）.

"I can't see him," 宣言するd Susan with unconscious cruelty. "He f 71 is always so yellow and cross when he is like this—but you talk to him, Olivia. We can't go on living as we do now—everything in 中断."

"No, we can't," agreed Mrs. Sacret, thinking of the painter. If she did not soon at least begin the 仕事 he had 始める，決める her, that strange man might disappear from her life as 突然の as he had come into it and that she could not 耐える to 熟視する／熟考する. "I'll speak to Mr. Rue for you."

"Oh, please do, Olivia—and I shall be 感謝する to you all my life."

"I'm sure you will," smiled Mrs. Sacret gently.

ｧ 17

ツバメ Rue again received his wife's companion in the library. The vista of light, warmth and pure color showed behind the glass doors. The young man was shrunken, わずかに 屈服するd, and moved in a 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なうd manner, complaining of 苦痛s in his 脚s. On the desk was a woven grass Indian basket 十分な of 瓶／封じ込めるs and phials, beside it a 薬／医学 glass, a 瓶／封じ込める of water, and a box of cigars; but he had not been smoking. Her loathing of illness and her long 延期するd but now 強烈な 憤慨 at having had to nurse a sick man during a slow malady, （機の）カム on her with a touch of fury. How thankful I shall be when I can be 解放する／自由な of this house, with this stupid woman and this man with his imaginary 病気. The young 銀行業者's greenish 注目する，もくろむs were turned toward her delicate wrist.

"I see you wear my wife's diamonds, Mrs. Sacret."

"Susan 主張するd on giving them to me, Mr. Rue. They arc not so large or so 価値のある that I felt 強いるd to 辞退する them."

"And you wear them, though only just out of 嘆く／悼むing, Mrs. Sacret? I always thought you a very 従来の person."

"I am. So much so that I cannot forbear enjoying the only pretty ornament I have ever 所有するd." She smiled on him, clasping her 手渡すs on her dove-colored silk dress, watching the flash in the 石／投石するs as the subdued light ran in and out of the facets. "But what I am going to say to you is not at all 従来の."

"I don't suppose so," he retorted suspiciously. "You mean to 干渉する between me and Susan. After I asked you to leave my house. After I 警告するd you—"

"I am bound to 干渉する, Mr. Rue. Susan has become 完全に 扶養家族 on me. And I must tell you straightly that she is 始める，決める on a 離婚."

"Mrs. Sacret, I implore you to leave this 事柄—this most 決定的な 事柄—between my wife and myself." He looked at her with dignity, half rising, then 沈むing 支援する into his 議長，司会を務める with a whisper of 苦痛. "This is 影響する／感情ing my health."

"You dose yourself too much and smoke too much," she replied with sympathy. "I have had experience with illness—I know of some West Indian 薬／医学s very 安定したing to the 神経s—"

"I know my own 憲法," replied ツバメ Rue 簡潔に. "My mother knew how to look after me. These 麻薬s are mostly her 構内／化合物ing, they 控訴 me."

"Your mother should be nursing you 支援する to health," 勧めるd Olivia Sacret 滑らかに. "Come, Mr. Rue, I know I play a part that seems 嫌悪すべき, but really I am 事実上の／代理 as a friend to both of you. You will never be happy with Susan—she is 決定するd to be 解放する／自由な. Believe me, I know her mind."

"I do not 疑問 you do—how weak it is, how easily 影響（力）d," he replied 温かく. She 公式文書，認めるd a slight constriction pass over his features and the sweat on his forehead under the damp yellow red hair. She thought of Frederick Sacret, he had often appeared as this man appeared and his illness had been supposed to be 大部分は "神経s." But he had died. She touched, curiously, on the reflection that かもしれない ツバメ Rue might die. How 平易な that would make everything for Susan. But her husband would not die, he was young and strong, にもかかわらず the 荒廃させるs made by 苦悩, 失望／欲求不満, an idle pointless life and continual drugging.

She spoke, even while these thoughts were forming, and spoke with 有罪の判決.

"It is not her mind I speak of but her heart—that is 誘発するd. She loves this man and is 決定するd to go to him."

"She would not do so," he answered 厳しく, "even under your 影響（力）, unless I 始める，決める her 解放する／自由な. Susan is very much afraid of—非，不，無 存在 respectable."

"Most women are," said Mrs. Sacret primly, annoyed that he understood his wife so 井戸／弁護士席. "Do, pray, come to plain 問題／発行するs: Will you 始める，決める her 解放する／自由な? She is 用意が出来ている to 放棄する a large 部分 of her fortune—"

"What are you 存在 paid for this insolence?" he asked.

"Useless to 侮辱 me, Mr. Rue. You know that your wife will not even see you save when I am 現在の."

The young man groaned and sank his 長，率いる in his 手渡すs.

"Someone is behind you," he 宣言するd. "You have not changed like this without some 影響（力） behind you—such self-保証／確信 is not natural. You are passionately 利益／興味d in separating me and my wife—I do not understand why."

Olivia Sacret shivered. For anyone to come 近づく to her 関係 with the painter of Minton Street was as if she felt 調査（する）ing 近づく a hidden 負傷させる.

"I 行為／法令／行動する for the good of my friend," she replied quickly. "You don't seem to realize how fond I am of Susan—she was the one happiness of my girlhood. You are 廃虚ing her life—her marriage to you was a mistake. If you don't 始める，決める her 解放する／自由な, perhaps she won't have the courage to elope with Sir John Curle—but she will die of a broken heart."

ツバメ Rue ちらりと見ることd up, baffled; 深く，強烈に as he disliked and 不信d this interloper, what she said seemed reasonable enough.

"You are a Christian woman," he whispered slowly, "and spoke much of piety when you first （機の）カム to my house. Yet you wish to break up my marriage."

"No, no, it is already broken. It never meant anything. Do understand. I must 危険 存在 indelicate. Susan wants a happy home, children. She will never live with you as your wife again."

ツバメ Rue shook some 減少（する）s from a 瓶／封じ込める he took from the hempen basket into the glass, filled it with water and drank it; a dusky color crept into his sallow 直面する.

"Aconite," he explained. "A 興奮剤 that agrees with me. As for a 離婚, it is out of the question. I shall not 離婚 Susan—even if she were to elope—and I shall not give her 原因（となる） to 離婚 me."

"Why?" asked Mrs. Sacret, inwardly shaken by his 予期しない firmness, his unmistakable 空気／公表する of finality.

"I am a Christian, if you are not," he sneered. "I believe in the sanctity of marriage." 落ちるing to a sigh, he 追加するd, "We are both young. I have hopes for the 未来. You are no true friend to Susan if you do not try to bring us together. Her feeling for this other man is a fancy—a passing fancy—"

"You are 厳粛に mistaken. This is the only man she has ever cared for—surely you can do this for poor Susan, let her go without a スキャンダル—"

"Do you realize what you ask?" he 需要・要求するd, suddenly angry. "Not only am Ito pass as an unfaithful husband, I am to strike her—申し込む／申し出 physical 暴力／激しさ to her before the 証言，証人／目撃する. I will not do it—"

"Is that the 法律?"

"It is, and you should have known it before you （機の）カム 干渉."

Mrs. Sacret 決起大会／結集させるd her 軍隊s; she was beginning to feel exhausted; inexperienced before a stronger 対立 than she had 推定する／予想するd, she began to feel the difference between 取引，協定ing with Susan and 取引，協定ing with her husband.

"Nothing of this makes any difference, Mr. Rue. You have lost Susan—to 辞退する her freedom will only lead to 悲劇."

"悲劇! You use that word lightly!"

Mrs. Sacret rose; the 有望な hues of the flowers beyond the glass, shut into their 静かな heat, dazzled her 注目する，もくろむs. Her 長，率いる ached.

"I mean what I say," she 宣言するd with an 成果／努力 at finality.

"And I mean what I say." He also rose and spoke with a heat and temper, only just controlled below a shout. "You are a mischievous, perhaps a wicked, woman."

The missionary's 未亡人 realized that she 直面するd an enemy; she had felt too much contempt for ツバメ Rue to have considered him as dangerous before, now she felt that he might be dangerous indeed, not only to her, but to her 助言者, hidden in Minton Street.

Yes, a powerful, a dangerous 対抗者. If he would not 解放（する） Susan, that poor-spirited creature would certainly die. And what use then would the letters be? And without the letters what use would she be to 示す Bellis? He, she was deadly 確かな , would have no 利益／興味 in a poverty-bitten 未亡人, with no prospects of any 肉親，親類d. She made her 決定／判定勝ち（する） suddenly, not altogether sure of herself, but aware that it was needful to 行為／法令／行動する quickly.

"You cannot be so 不振の as to wish to keep Susan—I think you do not realize how little she is yours—"

He interrupted her 速く.

"I told you once that sooner or later Susan tells me everything; her 証拠不十分 is 二塁打 辛勝する／優位d, Mrs. Sacret. It is not true that she never sees me alone. She has sworn to me that only two letters have been 交流d between her and Sir John Curie since his wife died."

The missionary's 未亡人 紅潮／摘発するd at what she felt to be treachery on the part of her friend.

"Since his wife died!" she exclaimed. "Indeed that is true, but Susan does not tell you everything—unless you know of the letters she wrote to Sir John before his wife died, letters that are in my 所有／入手."

He understood her with what she felt to be abominable quickness, using the words she so 堅固に resented.

"So—ゆすり，恐喝 is the secret of your 持つ／拘留する over her—"

Olivia Sacret was shocked, not only to hear once again "ゆすり，恐喝" and "持つ／拘留する," not only by this sharp 発覚 of what she appeared in the 注目する，もくろむs of others, the moment she について言及するd the letters, but by a sense of her own mistake. She began to 抗議する most 熱心に that she had no letters, that she had meant to say "supposing" there were such letters, casting a 中傷する, a taint, on Susan to see if he would not cast her off; but no, now she realized that this was a wrong thing to have 示唆するd. He 削減（する） into her speech and the two of them were speaking together, hoarsely, with an 空気／公表する of exhaustion. Through their two 発言する／表明するs she heard his 宣言, coming with the 軍隊 and 力／強力にする of a third 発言する／表明する.

"No 活動／戦闘 of Susan's before her marriage to me is any 関心 of 地雷. Nothing you could say or show me, nothing she could say or show me would make me believe anything disgraceful of Susan. If you have any letters I 断言する they are no more than indiscreet."

The missionary's 未亡人 agreed with him silently. She realized her secret 力／強力にする over Susan as the falsity it was, the letters were 害のない and only a timid fool like Susan would have been afraid of them.

"There are no letters," she said sullenly. "I only spoke to 実験（する） you. Of course I am only a silly woman. I am 単に trying to help Susan, who is very unhappy."

"You are 脅すing her," he answered furiously. "I understand it all now. That is why you are here. Now you shall go—and at once. Susan and I shall understand one another when we are alone again."

"You are ill," said Mrs. Sacret and indeed a slight spasm had 契約d his 直面する and he dabbed at his lips with his handkerchief.

"I shall not go."

"You will—and at once—"

"Do you think that if I do leave your house, it will bring your wife 支援する to you?"

"I do so believe."

"You forget Sir John Curie."

He had no 即座の answer to that and she left the room, no longer feeling able to 支える the interview. Yet it was necessary for her to see Susan すぐに, and she 急いでd upstairs, shaken and 疲労，（軍の）雑役d as she was, to the large bedroom where her friend spent so much of her time alone, tearfully idling and moping.

ｧ 18

"You have not been very true to me, Susan. You frequently say you are やめる estranged from your husband, yet you, as he （人命などを）奪う，主張するs—tell him everything—even to the letters you have just 交流d with Sir John Curle."

"I like to be as honest as I can," pleaded Susan ingenuously. "I feel so sorry for ツバメ—though he is unkind to me and I wish I had never married him. But never mind about that, Olivia; what did he say about the 離婚? You look so tired and pale!"

"Mr. Rue is a most difficult man," said Mrs. Sacret, carefully 隠すing any hint of the 失敗 she believed to be 決定的な, for she was 納得させるd that the young 銀行業者 would not 離婚 his wife nor give her 原因（となる） to 離婚 him. "I shall have to be careful. But I have good hopes that he will be reasonable in the end."

"In the end! How long am I to wait!"

Mrs. Sacret ちらりと見ることd at the locked door that led to the dressing room where ツバメ Rue had slept for some time.

"You really must be 患者, Susan. I am, as you see, やめる worn out with your 事件／事情／状勢s. A 離婚 is not something easily arranged. And, listen, Susan." She leaned 今後 and clasped her friend's wrist, trying not to notice the 縮むing at her touch. "Your husband wants to send me away. He thinks I am making mischief here. That is not true. And you must say that it is not true."

"It is not true," murmured Susan obediently.

"He thinks I am 脅すing you. Absurd, is it not?"

"Yes, indeed, absurd."

"He even guessed I might have—letters."

"Oh, how dreadful!"

"Of course I 否定するd this. And you must do so likewise. If he says anything to you about letters, you must 宣言する that there are 非，不，無. That you never wrote any—save 害のない ones. And that would be やめる true. Your mother-in-法律 had the same wicked thought. She （刑事）被告 me—of ゆすり，恐喝—yes, that is the horrid word they both used."

"You did not tell her you had these—letters?" whispered Susan.

"Of course not. I 否定するd it to both of them—and so must you."

"Make it true, Olivia—give them to me."

"Why, so I shall. It is the trouble of looking them up. And as they really are 害のない, why 関心 yourself?"

"害のない or not—if either of them were to see them I should kill myself," sobbed Susan wildly; "or if they were to be made public—that is why I would not care about eloping with Sir John, for then I should be 不名誉d, once and for all, and the letters would not 事柄."

Mrs. Sacret sighed with 疲労，（軍の）雑役. Again she saw her one 所有／入手, her 力／強力にする over Susan, 消えるing. Susan, with no 評判 to lose, would be no use to her. Hurriedly she said, "You must not say such wrong things. I shall 説得する your husband into a 離婚. Do you stand 会社／堅い by me. He will try to get rid of me. He will tell you lies of me. You must never let me go. 約束, Susan, never let me go."

"I 約束," assented Susan feebly.

Mrs. Sacret looked at her with 深い exasperation. Lovely, yet a little spoiled by weeping, the unhappy young woman was crouched in a （土地などの）細長い一片d blue satin 議長，司会を務める by the window, her blurred 注目する，もくろむs ちらりと見ることing furtively over the 最高の，を越すs of the swaying trees in the garden as if she were peering from a 刑務所，拘置所. She wore a loose rose-colored boudoir gown, 辛勝する／優位d with swan's-負かす／撃墜する, an expensive and insipid 衣料品 that the missionary's 未亡人, in her dress of pearl-gray color 発射 with lilac and azure トンs, despised.

Susan had everything save character and taste. Mrs. Sacret 訂正するd herself. Susan had lost her lover, and was certainly pining. "You'll 廃虚 your looks and your health, Susan—do be reasonable."

"There is no sense in 存在 reasonable," complained Susan passionately. Mrs. Sacret tapped her foot with impatience at anyone who made so foolish a lament. She felt 悩ますd, driven for time. She 手配中の，お尋ね者 to ask advice of the painter of Minton Street. Taking a 重要な from her reticule she 急いでd to her room and quickly returned with a flask and a small glass.

"Do drink this and compose yourself," she 勧めるd. She knew now just how much ワイン to give Susan ーするために make her drowsy and neither violent nor sick; the secreted ワイン was of good 質 now for 示す Bellis bought it. The disordered young woman drank greedily, and Mrs. Sacret, still 約束ing "to bring around" ツバメ Rue, induced her to 嘘（をつく） on her bed. She was soon asleep and the 未亡人, covering her up carefully in a 高くつく／犠牲の大きい eider-負かす／撃墜する cover, tiptoed away.

In her own room she pondered on her 事件／事情／状勢s, 注目する，もくろむing thoughtfully the salvia that bloomed vigorously, with what seemed an almost vicious vitality.

She was trembling わずかに, not sure of herself. She felt entangled in this intrigue that she had undertaken, perhaps, too lightly. Almost she wished she could 縮む 支援する into the old, obscure, 安全な ways. Yet the eager wish for this one chance of 緩和する, 高級な, the friendship of an 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の man, 勧めるd her on. Yet again she 疑問d her 技術, she was not as 冷静な／正味の and clever as she had thought she was; she felt 有能な of making 失敗s, perhaps had made one already in telling ツバメ Rue of the letters. Her position in the Old Priory was very 不安定な. If the master of the house 主張するd on her 出発, would Susan be strong enough to resist him? Mrs. Sacret had no 同盟（する）s in the 設立. The servants all hated her. They had betrayed her about the hidden ワイン, they would betray her about anything they could 秘かに調査する out. Nor could she 信用 Susan. Even now she dreaded leaving that foolish woman lest her husband should "get 持つ／拘留する of her" (on these 条件, Mrs. Sacret thought) and 軍隊 her 信用／信任. It seemed true that she told him everything. He might even 勝利，勝つ her around to a 仲直り and then Mrs. Sacret would be 強いるd to return to Minton Street. 示す Bellis would disappear and she would have to search for some humble 雇用. She dreaded the painter's displeasure at her 活動／戦闘s, yet longed to see him, and, much as she disliked leaving Susan, even ひどく asleep and 疲労，（軍の）雑役d, she 解決するd to 捜し出す her lodger's advice and 指示／教授／教育s. But her 計画（する）s were 突然の disarranged.

The young 銀行業者 was 掴むd with illness in the night; his wife was stupid and 激しい from drinking the contents of her friend's flask and the servants alarmed and 混乱させるd. It was the missionary's 未亡人 who took 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 状況／情勢, and with the 技術 of experience nursed ツバメ Rue during his fits of rigor and fever, soothing him with some 薬／医学 she had used with good 影響 for her husband's 苦しめるs. The 早期に morning brought Dr. Virtue, fetched by one of the grooms. He 設立する the 患者 on the mend and still 宣言するd that all the symptoms were 完全に nervous while commending the judicious nursing of Mrs. Sacret. She was much pleased by this 賞賛する and by some graceful words from the 患者 who seemed surprised and moved by her attentions.

Her sense of 力／強力にする had returned. She …を伴ってd the 内科医 to the hall, exhausted but 井戸／弁護士席 at 緩和する, and was 深く，強烈に delighted with his 信用／信任 as he 賞賛するd and spoke to her in low intimate トンs.

"You are a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Rue?"

"Yes, indeed. Mrs. Rue's school friend—perhaps her closest—"

"You did both a good service tonight. The poor lady is hardly 有能な of looking after her 事件／事情／状勢s. You've guessed the trouble, of course?"

"I know they are not ふさわしい—not happy—" she murmured.

"His illness is 正確に that—he is fretting himself to death."

"Would not—a 分離?" 示唆するd Mrs. Sacret 試験的に.

"By no means. ツバメ Rue is really 充てるd to his wife. She is frivolous, but good at heart. Use your 肉親，親類d 影響（力）, Mrs. Sacret, to 説得する them to go abroad."

"They went last winter—the trip was not a success."

"I know. He should shake off his invalidism. Let them go to some cheerful place, say Paris, and see company. If they had a little nursery, all the trouble would be over. Let old Mrs. Rue keep away—she began all this hysteria."

"Susan is hysterical?"

"No, her husband is," smiled Dr. Virtue, "but don't think that unmanly or a sham. It is an illness—and can be cured, but only by 緩和する of mind."

"But his 苦痛s? His fevers?"

"They are real enough—unhappiness 原因（となる）s them."

"Does he not dose himself too 自由に?"

"Probably. But he has nothing very harmful. I have seen his basket of nostrums. The old lady again! Let him start a happy, normal life and he'll forget the 薬／医学 瓶／封じ込めるs."

Dr. Virtue held out his 手渡す. Mrs. Sacret wondered if she should について言及する Sir John Curle and the real 危機 between the wretched couple. She 妥協d.

"Susan," she whispered, with a 病弱な ちらりと見ること over her shoulder along the overfurnished hall, "is indiscreet. This is her second marriage, you know. And when she was a 未亡人, she was talked of—"

The 内科医's manner changed at once.

"Was she?" he 発言／述べるd dryly. "Most pretty women with generous dispositions are, I suppose. And I am sure that ツバメ Rue would never remember any old, silly gossip now."

Mrs. Sacret realized that she had made a mistake.

"Old Mrs. Rue brings it up," she whispered quickly. "She makes mischief."

"But surely he never takes that sort of tittle-tattle 本気で?"

"I don't know—I can't say," replied Mrs. Sacret truthfully, for she was at a loss.

"Another 推論する／理由 for sending them away," replied the 内科医. "説得する them to it, Mrs. Sacret."

She watched his glossy brougham sweep along the newly raked carriage 運動 and put her 手渡すs to her 長，率いる. She was bewildered, wondering how she could turn all the 国内の events of this 世帯 to her advantage. She went into the dining room and rang the bell. Curtis, the parlormaid, stiff in her gray uniform, appeared.

"I shall not be in for 昼食," said Mrs. Sacret. "I have to 会合，会う a friend in town. Your mistress is lying 負かす／撃墜する. Tell her when she wakes."

"Very good, madam."

The missionary's 未亡人 was irritated by the 敵意 of the servant. She had hoped that she had earned a little good will by her 出席 on the 無効の.

"I am very 疲労，（軍の）雑役d—存在 up all night," she 発言／述べるd. "Master and Mistress せねばならない go away together—by themselves," replied Curtis coldly.

"That will do. You forget yourself," rebuked the missionary's 未亡人.

The maid left the room and Mrs. Sacret felt even more 深く，強烈に resentful. How stupid of them all to harp on this "going away together" as if they had not recently been abroad and returned bored and discontented. And why did they all turn to her, almost 控訴，上告 to her, as if it had anything to do with her, or she could be of any use or 利益 to them? A pair of spoiled, peevish fools.

Mrs. Sacret resisted the 誘惑 to 支える herself by a glass of the excellent sherry she kept locked in her cupboard, and 始める，決める out resolutely for Minton Street. When she reached the mean house she was trembling, not only from 疲労，（軍の）雑役, but from 恐れる that she would not find her friend, it was likely enough that he would be in Kent, but r 81 he opened the door at once on her hesitating （犯罪の）一味. He must have been watching her from the window at which she had not dared to ちらりと見ること. "I 推定する／予想するd you yesterday," he said with a hint of impatience behind his serenity. "I have been waiting."

"I longed to come," replied Mrs. Sacret 謙虚に, as she followed him into the parlor. She sat in the beehive 議長，司会を務める, gazed at her portrait on the easel and told him her story, feeling weak and 不十分な. As she spoke she pulled off her long gray silk gloves and rolled them into a ball in her （競技場の）トラック一周. When she （機の）カム to an end, the painter, who had been listening attentively, stepped up to her and 解除するd her 権利 手渡す. She shuddered at his touch, believing that he was going to kiss her palm. But he unclasped Susan's bracelet and 診察するd the 石／投石するs.

"Not very 価値のある," he 発言／述べるd, "but I can get something for it."

Olivia Sacret sighed; she 解任するd the sordid 取引ing of their first 会合. He had never paid any rent beyond the gold piece she still treasured and she had given him all the money she could save from her needful expenses.

"I don't know what you spend it on," she 発言／述べるd, unconscious of the banality of her （民事の）告訴. To the painter it was, however, very familiar and he ignored it, 単に 発言／述べるing, as he slipped the diamonds into his pocket: "That ワイン I buy for you is not cheap."

猛烈に she asked: "How much do you want? I mean, to be of any use."

"A few hundreds. Say a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, when I have finished with Lyndbridge House. Then I could take a holiday—live en prince. For awhile."

"Where?"

"I know a number of places. Paris, perhaps, or Vienna."

Mrs. Sacret thought with a dreadful pang, He does not even 示唆する that I go with him. Of course the gossips were 権利, he is a mere adventurer.

"But the way you are behaving," he 追加するd pleasantly, "we shall never have a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs."

Encouraged by this, she asked quickly, "Have I done wrong?"

"Yes. I 疑問 if you are fitted for intrigue. You began 井戸／弁護士席, managing the 商売／仕事 of the letters very cleverly. Nov you have made several mistakes. You may have 廃虚d everything."

"Oh, no! How could that be?"

"You have put this man on his guard. He saw you 単に as a mischief-製造者, now he sees you as a blackmailer—he will certainly 軍隊 you out of his house."

"But he seemed 感謝する for my nursing—"

"He will still want to send you away as soon as he 回復するs a little. He loves his wife, as you should have perceived, and will listen to nothing against her."

"I felt it was a mistake," 自白するd Mrs. Sacret miserably, "as soon as I had spoken."

"You made another. You betrayed yourself to the doctor as spiteful, in casting a 中傷する on Susan Rue. Did you bring the letters?"

She took them from her reticule. They were meant to propitiate his possible ill-humor.

"They are all here?"

"All, I should not try to cheat you."

"I suppose not," he smiled at her tenderly, running his 罰金 fingers over the 辛勝する／優位s of the expensive notepaper. "You must follow my advice very carefully. We must 行為／法令／行動する quickly—for I am 確かな you will be turned out of the Old Priory. Mr. Rue, 支援するd by his mother, the doctor, and all his friends, will 無視／無効 his wife's 恐れる of you."

"What of her passion for Sir John Curle? I know that is powerful."

"かもしれない. But she will probably 抑制（する） it for the moment—later she may become desperate and leave her husband; that, however, will be in the 未来 and of no use to us."

"Oh, what am I to do!" cried Olivia Sacret. "I am so 疲労，（軍の）雑役d! I cannot continue nursing, if this man is to be ill. I am so 疲れた／うんざりした of sickness."

"You can always leave the Old Priory and give the letters 支援する. You can return here soon. If this comes to nothing I shall go abroad as soon as I have had my wretched 料金 from Fox Oldham."

Mrs. Sacret was shaken by jealousy and longing, her only 救済 lay in the fact that his handsome 注目する，もくろむs were regarding her 熱心に, as if she were important to him. He must really need money and have no means of getting it besides herself. "I 推定する／予想する you have a wife somewhere," she said sadly.

"I have never spoken of marriage or of any woman to you," he smiled, "and never shall. I supposed you a good companion. Come, don't spoil that impression with these banalities. You've too much spirit and beauty to be 説 such trash."

"I've too much spirit to work for you for nothing," she 軍隊d herself to retort.

"You'll 株, Mrs. Sacret, in whatever we get," he 保証するd her. "Indeed, I admire you. I shall delight in showing you how to enjoy yourself—good food—ワイン—elegant 着せる／賦与するs—the theater—riding lessons—a few other 業績／成就s. Yes, it would be 利益／興味ing to teach one so 失望させるd as yourself, a Puritan against your will, what there is in life. But one must have money for the most modest 実験 along those lines."

The missionary's 未亡人 was ばく然と aware that this talk was 天然のまま, adapted to a woman the （衆議院の）議長 considered immature, almost childish. She made a feeble 成果／努力 to 持続する her 落ちるing 弁護s, as she rose.

"I shall go to the 酪農場 and get a glass of milk and a sponge cake. Then I'll return here and we must decide just what we are going to do."

"Excellent. As I have already told you, we are 圧力（をかける）d for time. I'll take these letters to my chophouse. Give me two hours and I'll have the 計画（する）s thought out."

He 護衛するd her from the house. Tired as she was, she did not dare to 示唆する that she wait there for him, knowing that she would be 辞退するd.

ｧ 19

Mrs. Sacret had a good 取引，協定 of time TO put in before she could 投機・賭ける to return to Minton Street. Her refreshment was soon taken and she turned 負かす／撃墜する one of the streets of small purple brick houses to the river. It was low tide and the mud flats were exposed; on the さらに先に bank the trees, in midsummer leafage, were dense as light green hills. The sun blinds were drawn over doors and windows, no one was abroad; there was to the lonely woman an almost intolerable sense of meanness and emptiness under the trembling shade of the tall 計画（する）s that shaded the flat mansions that overlooked the Thames. At one time, from the drabness of Minton Street, she had envied the 居住（者）s of this superior terrace; now she detested it. Indeed she 認めるd her 苦境: She detested every prospect save that of 存在 in the constant company of the painter.

She was still afraid to look ahead; she even shrank from 明確に表すing any wish or 願望（する） for love or marriage, but she knew she could not let him go if, by any means in her 力／強力にする, she could keep him. Let him go? What had she of him? After an 協会 of several months they still 演説（する）／住所d one another with 形式順守 and she was not sure that she had any 利益／興味 for him beyond a mercenary one. She leaned on the low 塀で囲む that divided the terrace from the wet reaches and gazed unseeingly 負かす／撃墜する below at the mud larks in their rags, playing の中で the moored boats and 取り組む.

Her ありふれた sense, dying hard, showed her the man, the episode as they would certainly appear to others. She knew nothing of him beyond what he had told her himself and that she did not believe. What was he but a journeyman painter who, while grinding colors in a 流行の／上流の studio, had learned to 偉業／利用する his natural personal advantages and to ape the manners of his betters? His talent and （手先の）技術, though dazzling to her, were, no 疑問, too ordinary for success, and he had become what used to be 指名するd in the little anecdotes she had to translate into French at school, a chevalier d'industrie. Queer how the long-forgotten 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 （機の）カム into her mind. His romantic 指名する was assumed, of course. Probably many women had been 犠牲者s of his graceful 演説（する）／住所, his indirect flatteries, his peculiar 上向き gazing 注目する，もくろむs, his 厚い stiff dark hair, 紅潮／摘発するd with a gold 色合い only 明白な in a strong light. What did he want—what did he really mean, when he spoke of 高級な, of money?

Then as she dwelt on the image of the painter, she began to embellish it, prudence and shrewdness 消えるd from her mind, her overcharged fancy took 支配（する）／統制する.

He was undoubtedly of noble birth. High spirited and 故意の, he had resented tyrannical 当局, very likely he had been wronged. He had escaped to sea, to the New World, laying aside the 制限s t of his 階級. She saw him as a tamer of wild horses, as a 探検者 after gold, galloping on the 追跡する of red Indians, casting 負かす／撃墜する the cards and dice in 無謀な gallantry, adored by lovely women such as she could never hope to 競争相手, using his talent to earn a living when more manly 占領／職業s failed.

As she dwelt on him his fascination for her 増加するd. It would be impossible to feel dull in his company. He was always doing something that to her was new. The bowl of water with the candle behind it, what a strange light it had shed in her dingy room, transforming all the threadbare meanness into something 半端物 and fantastic. So, 会合 him had transformed her 暗い／優うつな hopeless 存在 into a rainbow glitter.

How ordinary, how tedious, compared to him were all the other men she knew: ツバメ Rue, Dr. Virtue, the few male 訪問者s to the Old Priory. Her memories of the chapel people and of her own husband, the missionaries in Jamaica, became 嫌悪すべき. Only in the recollection of her father did she find anyone 類似の to the painter and of her father she thought with 憤慨—had he not cheated her, 奪うing her of all she ought to have had? She was startled out of her absorption in her daydreams by the 支配する of her 深い reverie approaching her gaily. As he raised his hat the sun glinted on his 勇敢に立ち向かう, rich hair and the day 中止するd to be melancholy.

"This is a dismal 位置／汚点／見つけ出す," he smiled. "Are you not 疲労，（軍の）雑役d?"

"No," she answered truthfully, for her musing on a possible golden 未来 had invigorated her. "I have no guide to the time—have two hours passed? Shall we return to Minton Street?"

"Not yet. Let us take a stroll. Do you know this 近隣?"

"Very 井戸／弁護士席."

"Yet I dare 断言する you have 行方不明になるd some points of 利益／興味. Do you ever think of the famous heroes and their ladies who once lived here? Of the strange happenings that took place here?"

"I have no 利益／興味 in the past."

"You make a mistake. There is much to be learned from these old stories. Wherever I go I make a point of learning them. How fantastic and grotesque they are!"

"I would rather consider our 関心s."

"Why, so you shall," he 保証するd her. "I have read the letters and keep them 安全に."

"You 設立する them 害のない?"

"I'll tell you, later. Now, our stroll. We begin here, on this terrace." He took her arm in a friendly fashion and pointed between the trees. "Do you see that house, there—with the high 塀で囲む, and the light アイロンをかける and glass-covered way across the garden to the 前線 door, and the date, 1752, on the keystone above?"

"I am familiar with it—two 年輩の ladies who keep poodles reside there."

"They did not always. Do you 解任する that I told you that things happen to people because of what they are? Even 殺人?"

They were walking slowly, as if they had been lovers ぐずぐず残る over a few snatched moments together. He kept his 手渡す respectfully under her arm.

"A 著名な Frenchman lived there with his wife. He was a secret スパイ／執行官, who frequently changed 味方するs. She had been an actress and was much the 年上の of the two. They had an Italian servant. This terrace was then in the country. They kept a cabriolet with which to 運動 to town. One day, this count—for that was his 階級—was 補助装置ing his wife into this cabriolet when the valet 急ぐd out, 発射 them both, and then himself. They lay dead on that path, now 保護するd from the rain."

"What was the 推論する／理由 for this 罪，犯罪?"

"I told you—they were 殺人d because of what they were—dangerous people, playing a 二塁打 game. The 詳細（に述べる）s are still a mystery. Who was the Italian? Why the 自殺? A 特使 （機の）カム from 負かす／撃墜するing Street to 調印（する） the house, and then a 閣僚 大臣, who shut himself up there all night, 燃やすing papers."

Mrs. Sacret felt a touch of 狼狽 at the knowledge that this 残虐な scene had taken place before a dull neat house which she knew very 井戸／弁護士席; but this was transient. She had too much 関心 in her own 事件／事情／状勢s to feel any for other people—and those long dead.

"What does it 事柄 now?" she asked.

He looked at her 熱心に.

"It does not shock you? The 暴力／激しさ? The 殺人s?"

"Oh, no! Why should it? I daresay they deserved it—秘かに調査するs and doubtless wicked people."

"That is the sensible point of 見解（をとる）," the painter agreed. "Taken so, these 古代の tales have their 利益／興味. People are 殺人d because they are rogues—or fools. And usually hanged for the same 推論する／理由s. Now, before we discuss our 商売／仕事, I want to show you two other houses."

She （機の）カム obediently, 感謝する to leave everything in his 手渡すs and 確信して that he had already decided on a wise and brilliant course of 活動／戦闘.

After a short walk he turned along a pleasant wide street where the houses were not more than fifty years old. This led into a small square in the 中心 of which grew some high 計画（する） trees.

"Keston Square, Pimlico," 発言／述べるd the painter. "This was the scene of a curious 事件／事情／状勢—only ten years ago—you do not 解任する it?"

"Oh, no—I never read the newspapers. I never do now—only once I used to look at them for the 宣伝s."

"And nothing else?"

She 解任するd the 報告（する）／憶測 of the ゆすり，恐喝 事例／患者 that had struck so unpleasantly on her 注目する，もくろむ, but did not について言及する this. 示す Bellis paused in 前線 of No. 25. It had, in ありふれた with many other houses in the square, a To LET board 攻撃するd to the area railings.

"That 事件／事情／状勢 gave the 近隣 a bad 指名する," 発言／述べるd the painter, peering up at the large blank and dirty panes of the 屈服する window on the ground 床に打ち倒す. "This 所有物／資産／財産 belonged to an old clergyman—a miser. He had no living but was chaplain at the old Fulham 共同墓地. He resided, with a sour old housekeeper, in a house 近づく by that we shall visit presently."

"How dark this square is!"

"The trees cast a dense shade, they are older than the houses. This used to be the park of a manor house. Can you see the old miser visiting here—with a To LET board on it then, as now. Keeping an 任命 with a workman he had 雇うd on some 修理s?"

"I can think of it," replied the missionary's 未亡人. "It is an ordinary episode. The house looks very neglected, 暗い／優うつな and dismal."

"It has been empty for ten years. The old miser had advertised in the 地元の paper for cheap casual labor. He knew nothing of the young man who answered—and who worked very 井戸／弁護士席. The clergyman hoped to get a good rent, but he grudged every penny spent on the place. One week he paid the workman in gold and 自白するd that he kept all his money in his house in 君主s as he did not 信用 the bank. So the workman struck him on the 長，率いる with a 大打撃を与える from behind, and thrust his 団体／死体 into a culvert in the garden. That is what he got for 存在 a fool."

"I don't suppose he was 行方不明になるd," 発言／述べるd Mrs. Sacret, leaning on her companion's arm, smiling up at his charming, animated 直面する. In the dark, lonely square that yet was so far from the busy 主要道路 and the busy river, they seemed to be as 私的な as if enclosed in a room.

"Not for a long time," said 示す Bellis, 製図／抽選 her away and out の上に the Thames 味方する again. "The 殺害者 went at once to St. Helen's Square—here it is, the very next turning—and to No. 15, where the clergyman lived. He rang the bell, and the housekeeper 認める him at once, for she knew him 井戸／弁護士席, only 不平（をいう）ing at him because of his muddy boots, for it was October and a wet day. He had been glad of that to wash away stains worse than mud on those boots—a few dead leaves stuck to them. He soon silenced her. And he soon 設立する the gold. More of it than he had ever seen in his life before—boxes of it. He put the old woman's 団体／死体 in a trunk and corded her up. Then he lived in the house and spent the money. With a companion."

They had now reached the house, No. 15 St. Helen's Square, of which the painter had spoken. It was an ordinary brick 住居 with a TO LET 法案 地位，任命するd in the window and a 黒人／ボイコット cat asleep on the dusty sill of the ground 床に打ち倒す window. The missionary's 未亡人 looked at it with a (n)艦隊／(a)素早いing curiosity. She longed to return to her own 事件／事情／状勢s and receive advice as to what she was to do. Even while delighting in the painter's company, she felt uneasy as to what might be happening in the Old Priory. ツバメ Rue might have 回復するd from his nervous attack and be playing on his wife's compassion ーするために 影響 a 仲直り. Old Mrs. Rue might have come on the scene. The servants might be gossiping about the interloper...

"You are not listening," 発言／述べるd the painter. "Yet consider this 淡褐色 little house, 正確に／まさに like thousands of others, built by a cheap 請負業者 in a flimsy fashion, yet the scene of this 罪，犯罪. Here the young man dwelt with his—companion—spending the miser's money. Then he had to get rid of the housekeeper's 団体／死体. He had 設立する, の中で the old clergyman's 影響s, the 肩書を与える 行為s of his other 所有物／資産／財産. There was a house at Fulham, also to let, and he thought of taking the 死体 there and burying it in the garden."

"It is a sordid 事例／患者," said Mrs. Sacret indifferently. "I hope this wretch was hanged."

"He moved the 団体／死体 from the trunk and put it in a packing 事例／患者, and engaged a 先頭 and driver to take it to the Fulham 所有物／資産／財産. All went off very 井戸／弁護士席, save that the driver of the 先頭 complained of the 負わせる of the box and said it was corded in an amateur fashion. However, he drove off. And the young man watched him 運動 away—along this street—thought the 状況／情勢 over and decided to bolt. After all, the money was nearly spent. He had changed some of it into diamonds, useful anywhere. So he never kept his 任命 with the driver of the 雇うd 先頭, but slipped off to Liverpool."

"Why does this 利益／興味 you asked Mrs. Sacret.

"As an artist human 構成要素 must 利益／興味 me. I might have to draw a 殺害者 or his 犠牲者. I must assimilate their characters. This young man was never seen again—he was a stranger in Pimlico and impossible to trace. The driver asked a passer-by to help him with the 事例／患者 and they 設立する it stained, like brown paint, at the 共同のs—so the 事件／事情／状勢 （機の）カム to light. He had not packed it very adroitly, I suppose."

"How do you know so much about it? All this could not have been in the newspaper 報告（する）／憶測s."

"Much of it was—for the 残り／休憩（する）, I re-created it in my imagination. I thought of those two worthless people, cleanly 性質の／したい気がして of, and how the hoarded gold was, no 疑問, 井戸／弁護士席 spent."

"It was a horrid 罪，犯罪," said Olivia Sacret indifferently. "'What did the 殺害者 look like?"

"The police notices 明言する／公表するd that he was わずかな／ほっそりした, with a fair 耐えるd. He had given the 指名する of Allen Drawn. Come, let us return to Minton Street and discuss our own 事件／事情／状勢s."

The missionary's 未亡人 喜んで assented. She had felt no more repulsion at the painter's tales than she had felt at the stories of cruelty and 罪，犯罪 that had come to her ears remotely, at third and fourth 手渡す, in the West Indies. There was a transient flicker of curiosity at this ちらりと見ること into the 広大な and intricate world of London that was all about her, and of which she knew nothing, but her own 窮地 remained 吸収するing. She clung to the painter's arm and really felt the need of his support.

"Come," he smiled. "You will not be able to 支える your part if you do not show more spirit. Have I sickened you with my old stories?"

"Oh, no," she replied impatiently. "I am not so queasy as that. They have nothing to do with me and I have already forgotten them. I am tired from a sleepless night."

"We will take a turn in the fresh 空気／公表する."

They walked away from Pimlico. The last rustic 小道／航路s and fields were boarded up and 陳列する，発揮するd boards—"THIS LAND TO BE LET ON BUILDING LEASES—and the new 郊外 spread into the old village, the old parks and meadows, the 列／漕ぐ／騒動s of brick houses with 予定する roofs and more pretentious 郊外住宅s, some half built, rising の中で the one-story cottages of the wharfingers and the 削減する terraces of houses of the last century, still standing in pleasant gardens.

"This is tawdry and desolate," 発言／述べるd Mr. Bellis. "Would you not like a glimpse of the real country?"

"Indeed I should—but how?"

"You could come for the day to Lyndbridge—and see my 絵. That could easily be arranged."

She 紅潮／摘発するd with 楽しみ. Never had she hoped for as 広大な／多数の／重要な a 好意 as this.

"But the people in the Old Priory—am I to leave them alone for a whole day?"

"Yes—I shall tell you what you must do."

"So Evil My Love" — Ann Todd and Ray Milland

In the parlor at Minton Street the missionary's 未亡人 received her 指示／教授／教育s. The painter gave her a glass of excellent シャンペン酒, a salad and some oysters, 井戸／弁護士席 served on the corner of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する on which lay his 小衝突s, some playing cards, playbills, paint palettes and paper knives and さまざまな pencils and chalks. He had bought and 用意が出来ている this meal while she had been waiting on the dreary terrace by the river and she smiled in 感謝, forgetting even her 苦悩s about the Old Priory, both in the joy of the 現在の moment and in 予期 of the visit to Lyndbridge. Susan and her husband, the entire 事件／事情／状勢s of those dull people, now seemed to her insufferable; she wished that she never had to hear of them again. But she must have money. She reminded herself of that はっきりと.

示す Bellis seemed to sense her thought. He 発言／述べるd with an 強調 of his agreeable, soothing smile and courteous manner: "There will be very little for you to do. And certainly you will not remain much longer at the Old Priory. Mr. Rue will 主張する on your 出発—it is 単に a 事例／患者 of what you can 遂行する before you go. You might try to 説得する your friend to leave with you. Then—when she is 解放する／自由な of her husband—you might bring her into touch with Sir John Curle and do your best to make them elope. They seem to be in love, so this should not be difficult."

"But it will be impossible—Susan is so timid and so respectable," 抗議するd Mrs. Sacret in alarm at the 仕事 before her.

The painter wrinkled his brow into a frown, at the same time smiling.

"Come, you must not make difficulties. You have the letters to 持つ／拘留する over her. Still, it might be it would be impossible."

Olivia Sacret drank her シャンペン酒. She wished that this intrigue was behind her and that she was enjoying her reward. Yet she did not even know what that might be.

"I hope I can manage," she murmured. "I feel so alone in that 広大な／多数の／重要な house—everyone is 敵意を持った, even the servants."

"That is 残念な. Servants always hate genteel 扶養家族s. You should have tried to make them like you. Of course, however, you will do very 井戸／弁護士席. You have but to 押し進める an infatuated woman along the path she 願望（する）s to go. And you must try to induce her to visit her lawyers and 需要・要求する her fortune from her husband. I wish I knew the 詳細（に述べる）s of that—you must discover them."

"What must I 目的（とする） to get from Susan?" asked the missionary's 未亡人 直接／まっすぐに.

示す Bellis was pleased at this candor.

"Susan will 借りがある you so much that she will 喜んで 年金 you for the 残り／休憩（する） of your life, besides making you 現在のs. You should ask her also, as soon as she is 解放する／自由な of her husband, for a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs—say—to 始める，決める you up in a modest millinery 設立."

"But will Susan leave her husband? Remember she is 推定する／予想するing me to 説得する her husband into a 離婚."

"He will not give it to her."

"No, I do not think so. What are we to do—if she will not leave him without the 離婚?"

The painter stood thoughtfully silent, his 極度の慎重さを要する 直面する and 罰金 手渡す 持つ／拘留するing the シャンペン酒 glass were 輪郭（を描く）d in the warm 日光 that fell aslant through the small window. "Mr. Rue is in the way," he 発言／述べるd at length. "Were he to die—his 未亡人 would be 完全に in your 手渡すs."

"Oh, he won't die," answered Mrs. Sacret. "He is young and strong—only coddled and wretched, always worrying about his 神経s—and then dosing himself."

"What was this 薬／医学 you told me you gave him?"

"A simple draught the Negroes used to 構内／化合物 from some 工場／植物—I have forgotten the 指名する. A 砕く one mixes with hot water. I brought some boxes of it home, it 緩和するs 頭痛," replied Mrs. Sacret. "It ふさわしい ツバメ Rue better than his favorite 減少（する）s—but why talk of this? I am so 疲れた／うんざりした of sickness and dollops and draughts and pasters."

"にもかかわらず you must continue to nurse Mr. Rue and to 伸び（る） his 信用／信任. 代表する yourself to everyone—特に the doctor—as the family friend who is working for the 仲直り of the couple."

"I could not keep that up for long."

"I know—did I not tell you you would not long be 許すd to remain there? But while the master of the house is ill, he will not be able to 競う with you."

"He may 回復する—suddenly. As there is nothing really wrong with him he is often 井戸／弁護士席 within a few hours of an attack."

"This time he might not 回復する so quickly."

Mrs. Sacret shrugged her elegant shoulders. A pity, she thought, that they had to spend their short time together in discussing such tiresome 支配するs, commonplace old 罪，犯罪s and Susan's tedious 事件／事情／状勢s. She 手配中の，お尋ね者 to ask him about his travels, his adventures, to 調査（する） him as to his 意向s as to the 未来 that she was keeping blank and empty for him.

"I shall not give you another glass of シャンペン酒," he said. "And pray do not drink while you are at the Old Priory."

"Oh, I never do—to 超過—I know what you mean."

She 星／主役にするd at him, 努力するing to 侵入する and withstand his fascination for her and once more her native shrewdness 反映するd, He knows all your poor tale, and you know nothing of him. He must be useless to everyone—he has no friends—no 始める，決める—he moves alone, 存在するing on the stupidity of people like myself. But this flash of prudence was soon gone. When her prim disguises—her rigid conventionalities—were discarded, she was, she realized, of the same mental 見通し and tastes as this stranger. What she did not yet know was if he was of the same emotional capacity. Was he able to feel for anyone what she felt for him?

"I really am not equal to what you wish me to do," she said 速く. "I began this—this—this play with Susan, teasing her with the letters—without 目的 or direction. Even now I can't follow it all—how it will work out, I mean. But I shall do as you direct."

"You'll get the money—somehow. And with credit to yourself and without 伴う／関わるing me. You have not について言及するd me?" He smiled too long and too 刻々と; it gave the impression of a 直す／買収する，八百長をするd grimace; he ちらりと見ることd up as if he saw some 逮捕（する）ing sight in the corner of the 天井.

"No, indeed. But Mr. Rue 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd I had someone behind me. He said I had changed lately. And I suppose that is true enough."

"You have developed. You are only what you always might have been. If you had never had this chance of—開発—you would have gone crazy and died of 失望／欲求不満."

She gazed at him, startled. She saw herself as she would have been had she not visited Susan, had she not met him, and she saw a shriveled 人物／姿／数字, daily withering, bent over a desk in a 薄暗い office, ひさまづくing in a 薄暗い chapel, walking streets thronged with strangers, going home one dull evening and cutting her throat with the bread knife.

She put aside her glass in which the ワイン still showed （疑いを）晴らす and 選ぶd up her long gray silk gloves.

"When am Ito come to Lyndbridge?"

"The day after tomorrow—Thursday—take the 10.15 from Charing Cross. I shall be at Lyndbridge 駅／配置する to 会合，会う you. A small village, but the mansion is not unpleasant." He smiled at her brilliantly and opened the door.

"You are tired," he 発言／述べるd. "Next time you come here make Mrs. Rue send the carriage for you."

"The servants would gossip."

"They do that now. I need not be seen. It is natural that you should いつかs visit your 所有物／資産／財産. Ask to be driven to the 駅／配置する tomorrow."

He was in the passage and had the 前線 door open. She passed out into the street, the dusk, and walked toward the river, the 橋（渡しをする）, the Old Priory, with the slow step of 疲労，（軍の）雑役. She remembered suddenly that she had left the letters with the painter and （機の）カム to a 行き詰まり of 狼狽, so 大いに did she dislike to have this, her one 武器, out of her 手渡すs. But she did not dare to return to Minton Street to 埋め立てる them.

ツバメ Rue quickly 回復するd from his nervous attack, おもに, Dr. Virtue 宣言するd to Mrs. Sacret 個人として, because his wife had been 脅すd into a show of 関心 and even tenderness for him. He soon 設立する occasion to 発言／述べる to Susan's companion, "I am much 強いるd to you for your careful nursing, and for the Indian 薬／医学. I should be 感謝する for the recipe, but I still must 主張する that you leave my house—都合よく 補償するd."

"Pray, don't 乱す yourself, sir," replied Mrs. Sacret. "I hope to 出発／死 very soon."

"There must be no 延期する, no 転換s." The young 銀行業者, though still yellow 直面するd and feeble, spoke with 軍隊. "I want to leave this house—it has never been lucky for us, it is too large and expensive. Susan can't manage an 設立 of this size. There is always waste somewhere."

Mrs. Sacret was contemptuously silent. She despised this meanness, this 最大の関心事 with 国内の economy in a man who was both rich and young. 関わりなく her sharp ちらりと見ること he continued 堅固に:

"You are not wearing Susan's diamonds."

"You yourself 発言／述べるd, Mr. Rue, that they were not suitable to my 嘆く／悼むing."

"I don't suppose you would 支払う／賃金 any 注意する to any strictures of 地雷," he sneered. "And you are to have the horses tomorrow for the 駅／配置する—where are you going, pray?"

"Why should I not have friends?"

"There might be many 推論する／理由s for that, Mrs. Sacret. I have often 発言／述べるd on your extreme 孤立／分離."

"I have friends—in Kent—I ーするつもりである to spend the day there."

"And the diamonds?"

"Are they not my 所有物／資産／財産?"

"I do not consider them so—I believe that you 得るd them from Susan by 脅しs."

Olivia Sacret was quick to 掴む this chance.

"I 断言する by God—on the Bible if you will—that I have no letters of Susan's in my 所有／入手."

ツバメ Rue seemed impressed by that vehemence; she saw that he did not consider that this was an 誓い that the missionary's 未亡人 would lightly have sworn; nor was it; even as she spoke she reminded herself that the letters were at Minton Street in the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the painter.

"I am inclined to believe that you would not perjure yourself," he 認める grudgingly. "Also that it is not in Susan's character to have a secret that anyone could menace her with; but what you said was a very vulgar 嘘（をつく）—about my wife—the most upright of women."

Mrs. Sacret 紅潮／摘発するd with 激怒（する）. She resented not only his rudeness to her, but his 約束 in Susan. Yet she could think of no answer that would be in 一致 with the 指示／教授／教育s that 示す Bellis had given her. Placing these before her mind, she said in a low 発言する／表明する:

"I really wish to be a true friend to both of you. I am very fond of Susan."

"Then 説得する her to be fond of me," he interrupted quickly. "For she will never he happy with any man save her husband."

Mrs. Sacret knew that this was true. It was also あいまいな. "Let her 離婚 you," she 勧めるd, "and be happy with a man she loves and can marry."

"That 支配する is forbidden," he replied 怒って, the furious red 紅潮／摘発するing into his cheeks.

"Still, I give you good advice." She remembered what the painter had said of herself, and 追加するd, "If you do not let her go, she will go crazy and die of 失望／欲求不満."

"If only you would leave my house!" he exclaimed and she, 確固たる to her 政策 of pacification, replied:

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, I shall be going soon. I am only sorry that I have not been of more use to Susan."

"My mother is coming to stay here," he said. "She will see that you neither 脅す nor 説得する Susan. She is arriving on Saturday, though she is a very busy woman. She does so much for charities, you know."

"Perhaps she can 得る me a 地位，任命する with one of them," smiled Mrs. Sacret. "I shall have to find work when I leave the Old Priory."

The young 銀行業者 ignored that impertinence and with a change of トン asked the missionary's 未亡人 if she could give him the recipe for the Indian sedative.

"I wonder that you care to be 強いるd to me," she retorted. "But I shall look it up の中で dear Frederick's papers, though I 疑問 if any English 化学者／薬剤師 could make it up—it is, as I told you, a native 薬／医学. I got a Kingstown apothecary to 令状 it 負かす／撃墜する, I don't know if the 麻薬s are to be 得るd here."

"Pray, then, give me your 供給（する）."

"Oh, it is nearly exhausted, and I like to keep some for my neuralgia, but I shall see what I can do."

She left the sumptuous 製図／抽選 room, 疲れた／うんざりした of the tedious conversation and of the idle 空気／公表する of the young man who lolled in an 平易な 議長，司会を務める, the day's newspapers on the 床に打ち倒す where they had dropped from his 手渡す. Though Susan 反対するd to the smell of タバコ he wore his smoking jacket and he was not freshly shaven. His self-pity, his imaginary illness (so she considered it, whatever Dr. Virtue might say), his obstinacy as regards his wife, his dependence on his mother, all disgusted Olivia Sacret. She contrasted him with the painter who was always 警報, always 十分な of 計画（する）s and energy. Though so 静かな and self-controlled, he was never at a loss, easily master of any 状況／情勢. But then what a different life he had had, so 十分な of adventure, 危険，危なくする and experience, while ツバメ had never left his mother's apron strings until an 予期しない infatuation for a pretty 未亡人 had thrown 削減する into a foolish marriage. How different also was the birth of the two men—ツバメ Rue was middle class, really not a gentleman, while she was sure that "示す Bellis" was the disguise for a noble 指名する. Probably the painter （機の）カム of a famous family and owned 肩書を与えるs and 栄誉（を受ける）s that he 軽蔑（する）d to （人命などを）奪う，主張する.

Mrs. Sacret escaped from the husband only to be 拘留するd by the wife. Susan was waiting for her on the 上陸 outside her bedroom. Her friend, who had at first had a room on the 床に打ち倒す above, now slept next door; it was into this handsomely furnished 議会 that Susan, 紅潮／摘発するd and tearful, drew the missionary's 未亡人. She had heard that old Mrs. Rue was to visit the Old Priory and remain there, perhaps for months—"Watching me, Olivia! Setting me 負かす／撃墜する—making mischief; indeed, I cannot 耐える it! Why do you not 説得する ツバメ to give me a 離婚! You 約束d!"

"He is difficult," answered Mrs. Sacret with 深い vexation. How difficult, she thought 激しく. Why would he not 受託する the 必然的な, give Susan her freedom, and 許す her, Olivia Sacret, to take the credit for this, so that Sir John and Lady Curle would be her indebted friends for the 残り／休憩（する） of their lives and she would be able to 株 their bounties with the painter—how simple that would be! All of them would be contented. She was startled by 審理，公聴会 her own hovering 願望（する） 表明するd passionately by Susan. "I am driven to wish that ツバメ were 厳粛に ill. That he would not 回復する—"

"That is very wicked," 抗議するd Mrs. Sacret mechanically, but she thought, Yes, that would be a delightful 解答 of the problem.

"But it is only 神経s, he is not really sick at all," cried Susan, sobbing into her damp lace and 検討する，考慮する handkerchief.

And if he were to die, thought Mrs. Sacret, Susan would not be indebted to me—though I suppose she would still be 脅すd of the letters. Besides, he won't die, he is やめる healthy, as she says, and I must work for a 離婚.

With an 成果／努力 at showing a sympathy she did not feel, Olivia Sacret tried to clasp her friend to her bosom, but Susan 避けるd her, murmuring, with her 直面する turned aside, "Where are you going tomorrow?"

"To see some friends in Kent," replied Mrs. Sacret, はっきりと because of the rebuff. "I must have a little time to myself; I give up most of it to you." Recollecting her 指示／教授／教育s she 追加するd sweetly, "Don't he pettish, dear. I really am your protector. I am sure that I am bringing your husband around to give you a 離婚. And I shall 保護する you from that horrible old woman. I am more than a match for her, I 保証する you."

"The letters—" whispered Susan fearfully, peering over her handkerchief.

"I 宣言する you 怒り／怒る me! Such a 欠如（する） of 信用!" She 解任するd her trick with ツバメ Rue and repeated it. "I am a 宗教的な woman, as you know, and I 断言する by God I don't even know where the letters are—in what place, J mean." She 追加するd to herself, I don't—he may have them in a drawer or a box or even, at this very moment, in his 手渡すs.

Susan was as impressed as her husband had been. She gazed searchingly at her friend and Olivia smiled kindly with hazel 注目する，もくろむs and pretty lips.

"井戸／弁護士席, Olivia, do find them and give them to me. And quickly. And if you don't mean me any 害（を与える）—and I can't believe that you do—please, please 説得する ツバメ, at once, to let me go—before his mother comes, for you see, however much I want to keep you I shan't be able to much longer. ツバメ is 決定するd that you leave and he will be supported by his mother and I shall not be able to withstand them both."

"Supposing I can't 説得する him, why not leave with me?"

"Oh, no, I should not like to live with you! That would never do!"

"I did not mean live with me. I meant I would help you to elope with Sir John Curle."

"You know I have not the courage."

Mrs. Sacret walked up and 負かす／撃墜する the soft blue carpet. She was exasperated, 疲労，（軍の）雑役d with the whole 事件／事情／状勢. How tedious it was, how tiresome Susan was, with her obstinate passion and her feeble will. How she detested ツバメ Rue and his mother, and how enmeshed and 混乱させるd she was becoming with these intrigues. にもかかわらず the careful 指示／教授／教育s of the painter, she began to feel bewildered, as if she had a 集まり of threads entangled in her 手渡すs, and did not know the pattern she had to work with them. She tried to 直す／買収する，八百長をする her mind on the goal of all this 商売／仕事. What did she really want? It all （機の）カム to money. That was what the painter 手配中の，お尋ね者, too. She threw out her 手渡すs as if to cast off an invisible cluster of knots. "Will you give me a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, Susan?"

The younger woman looked amazed, 脅すd.

"I have not got so much money."

"Oh, yes you have—your lawyers could get it for you, and you have 宝石類 that you could sell. Come, give me that 量 and you may have the letters."

Susan spoke hurriedly and with more gravity than was usual with her. "My lawyers would ask questions. ツバメ watches my 宝石類. He was very angry about the diamond bracelet—I couldn't find so large a sum."

"Do try. I want to be away. Of course you 借りがある me far more than that—but I should be 満足させるd. It would be just a 貸付金 between friends and I should 返す it someday. And as those silly letters worry you I would give them to you."

"So, there is a price on them," said Susan unsteadily, "and always has been. You （機の）カム here with that 意向—ゆすり，恐喝 they call it—I knew it from the first. That is why I asked you to live with me, not out of any friendship for you—but because I was afraid of you. And now I can't get the money—I have difficulty in giving you what I do without 誘発するing ツバメ's 疑惑s."

"What nonsense," interrupted Mrs. Sacret はっきりと, angry with herself for her mistake that she now perceived to be 甚だしい／１２ダース. "You are really very fanciful and nervous, Susan! Is it not a ありふれた jest to long for a fortune! Pray do not give it another thought, but rely on me to 説得する your selfish husband to 離婚 you. Now, good night, my love."

She bent gracefully to kiss her friend, but Susan raised her arm to 区 her off, and 星／主役にするd up at her fearfully. "I'll not be shamed. John would never 許す me if I were 不名誉d and his part made public. He would never 許す me for 令状ing so 自由に to such a woman as you—for 存在 so easily deceived by your sham piety and meekness."

"Why, what is in the letters?" asked Mrs. Sacret curiously, bending over the crouching woman.

"You know. And that I am afraid. I married ツバメ to cover it up, because I was afraid. And I never remembered what I had written to you."

Oh, thought Mrs. Sacret with a flash of insight into Susan's terror. That is it, she never remembered—she does not know what she wrote!

"Do not lean over me—go away," said Susan. "I used to like you, to admire and 信用 you—but since you have lived here—I have—"

"Hush! Don't say it! I am truly your friend, Susan, though you don't deserve it. I am a woman beyond reproach, the 未亡人 of a missionary—while your 評判 残り／休憩（する）s on very little. Why, if the truth were known—"

Susan made a crouching, sideways movement that 解放する／自由なd her from the presence of Mrs. Sacret bending over her, and leaned against the rail of the richly furnished bed that she had 供給するd for Mrs. Sacret.

"Yet I am your friend—though I know what you are," repeated Olivia Sacret. "Don't say anything 迅速な or foolish. I daresay you think—as you once 示唆するd—that if you eloped with Sir John it wouldn't 事柄 about the letters 存在 known. But that would 不名誉 you even more. What a 勝利 it would be for old Mrs. Rue! You could not 抗議する that your husband's cruelty—and hers—had driven you to run away—for it could be 証明するd how you had behaved when you were a 未亡人 and Sir John was married—and how you snatched—as you yourself said just now—at ツバメ Rue's 指名する to cover it up—to save your 評判."

Susan put her 手渡す to her mouth and cried weakly, her flash of spirit soon gone. Sickened at such feebleness Mrs. Sacret hunched her shoulders and left the room. How 疲れた／うんざりした she was of Susan's troubles! If only that stupid woman would have produced the thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs—as she could have produced it if she had had any wit—she, Olivia Sacret, would have been relieved to have left the Old Priory forever, and even to have given up the letters.

A thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs was the sum that the painter had について言及するd and surely he would welcome her if she （機の）カム to him with that gift, and let her know how it was to be spent—together? Yet she did not know what "together" might mean. She had never thought of him as lover or husband, only as a companion and a master.

ｧ 20

The 天候 was 罰金 for Mrs. Sacret's 旅行 into Kent. She was 解決するd to enjoy this, and resolutely put the 事件／事情／状勢s of the Old Priory out of her mind. She would not, she told herself, worry over what might be happening in that disordered 世帯 while she was away, but have this day （疑いを）晴らす for 楽しみ. She hoped that 示す Bettis would not talk about the Rues' 事件／事情／状勢s, but that, in this fresh atmosphere, against this fresh background, he would 公表する／暴露する something of his mind, of his 計画（する）s for the 未来. Surely such must have been his 意向 when he asked her so far away from the mean little room in Minton Street and the riverside streets that so far had been their only surroundings. She had taken 広大な／多数の／重要な care with her 外見; there was no hint of 嘆く／悼むing in her expensive walking dress and mantle of dark lilac-colored cloth, her leaf-green bonnet with white roses and amber 略章s. She had been 星／主役にするd at in the train, she was 星／主役にするd at on the 壇・綱領・公約 of the small country 駅／配置する, and she felt uneasy, knowing that her 外見 was not 静かな and ladylike and that she should not be traveling alone, but when the painter joined her, all her self-信用／信任 returned. She was 感謝する then to know that she was a pretty, charming woman, and that he admired her. She felt that she had, at last, become like the portrait of her he had painted so soon after they had met.

He 申し込む／申し出d her his arm and they turned along a path where the lush 少しのd of 早期に autumn showed their berries and seeds against quickset hedges.

Lyndbridge House was only a short walk from the 駅／配置する. The painter explained that a fair was 存在 held at the 隣接地の town and that all the servants had gone there. "We shall be alone in that large mansion save for an old woman and her dog in the 地階 and some men in the stables, and they will not trouble us. I think it agreeable to be alone in a large house, do you not?"

"I have never had that experience," she replied 謙虚に. "I have always been in small houses, and often alone. Indeed, I know nothing. Why have you brought me here today?" she 追加するd, afraid of her own happiness at 存在 alone with him in these 平和的な ways.

"I'll show you," he smiled.

They entered large open gates; the tall 石／投石する piers supported lions しっかり掴むing 保護物，者s, the worn quarterings 輪郭（を描く）d with moss. The 運動 and the park were 井戸／弁護士席 kept, between the trunks of the chestnut trees, now in crinkled yellow leaf and smooth green fruit, showing the clipped turf sloping to rich woodland; before them was the frontage of Lyndbridge House, a Palladian fa軋de before an older building, 冷静な／正味の, pale, 砂漠d in the late morning light.

"Lower your 隠す," ordered the painter. "We are not likely to 会合，会う anyone—but of course you were seen at the 駅／配置する. It is impossible to disguise the fact that a woman （機の）カム here, though no one need know who she was."

"Does it 事柄? The 害のない excursion of a lover of art!"

"You must 避ける スキャンダル."

Mrs. Sacret thought that スキャンダル, once so fearful a thing to her, was no longer 脅すing—for she was out of touch with anyone who might have been shocked at any indecorum on her part. Indeed she was sure that she had already lost her character with her neighbors of Minton Street, who now never spoke to her, but nodded with half awe, half 軽蔑（する）, when she visited her tenant, and she cared nothing for their opinion. The painter 行為／行うd her to an 打ち明けるd 味方する door and up a spiral staircase to a long gallery, パネル盤d in waxed oak that still 保持するd the golden-yellow color of the young 支持を得ようと努めるd. There were a few pictures of piled fruits and stately flowers of all colors, 形態／調整s and seasons, in marble vases, 始める，決める on Persian tapestries, and ships at sea in トンs of 冷淡な blue and green, the canvases blowing out beneath 嵐の clouds. The 深い-始める，決める windows, of a noble 高さ, looked の上に formal gardens, box and イチイ hedges and stiff parterres of flowers, arranged in a pattern like lace, to be looked at from above. The sunbeams fell aslant into the silent gallery and the moths danced in them. Olivia Sacret at once felt a part of this gracious habitation and wondered how she had ever been able to 耐える the Old Priory and Susan's vulgar taste. She moved lightly, with a proud carriage, feeling that it was her 権利 to be in a palace.

The painter, 観察するing her closely, with what seemed to be a whimsical 親切, led the way to the 控訴 of rooms at the end of the enfilade.

These were in exquisite order, 存在 with 深い pink damask and furnished with delicate French pieces; the last room was circular, 存在 adapted from an 古代の tower. A glass door led to an outer stair, and at either 味方する were windows, giving の上に a rose garden, this also 存在 任命するd in an elegant feminine style. Here 示す Bellis had been working. The low modern 天井 he had already painted with pearl-like clouds on an azure sky, against which amorini floated scattering petals of summer flowers. This 絵 seemed to Mrs. Sacret to be very skillfully done, but her companion directed her attention to the 塀で囲むs on which he had, on stretched canvas, 描写するd a charming classic landscape that was done in several sections: on either 味方する the window was a 寺 in a grove of tall trees, with mountains beyond; on the 塀で囲む to the 権利 a rolling （選挙などの）運動をする, with a river and 橋（渡しをする）; on the left a lake with boats on the foreshore; and on the 塀で囲む 直面するing the windows, a valley and 激しく揺するs 栄冠を与えるd by a 城. All of it was painted in pale half トンs, and adorned with delightful 詳細（に述べる）s of 人物／姿／数字s of shepherds and their flocks, dogs, nymphs, ladies, cavaliers, 飛行機で行くing birds and horsemen, yet all so blended in line and color as to soothe and not 疲労，（軍の）雑役 the 注目する，もくろむ.

Mrs. Sacret sat on a 議長，司会を務める of padded yellow satin and 星／主役にするd at the empty rose garden where the sunlight fell on the termini of yellow-gray 石／投石する, with horned 長，率いるs and 空いている smiles. She then ちらりと見ることd at the glass-topped （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する beside her; on blue quilted satin was laid out ladies' needlework 器具／備品, thimble, needle-事例／患者, pincushion, scissors, bobbins in ivory and gold. She 星／主役にするd around the room, so new, so luxurious, 用意が出来ている for another woman. Once she had never even thought of such splendors, now she felt as if she could not do without them.

"You have a 権利 to such a 高くつく／犠牲の大きい background," he 保証するd her. "It becomes you—here you are beautiful indeed—no longer the missionary's 未亡人."

"I have already forgotten that part of my life," she replied 厳しく. "This is what I am ふさわしい for—the Old Priory is detestable."

"This is where you belong."

She 受託するd this flattery. It did not really seem to her that her father, third son of a modest squire, had come from such surroundings as these and that she had been cheated out of her birthright. She 炎上d with 怒り／怒る against 運命. "I would rather not have seen this place than have to leave it in a few hours," she 宣言するd passionately.

"You might 達成する something of the 肉親，親類d—if you had art enough," he said, pulling the sheet off a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in the middle of the room and showing his colors, 小衝突s and palette. "I know an old 城 on Lake Como one could 雇う for very little and have a few weeks of 高級な there—music, the chestnut 支持を得ようと努めるd, a boat on the lake," he 示すd, with a quick sweep of his arm, his 塀で囲む 絵s, as if he had 具体的に表現するd his dreams in these imaginary landscapes. Looking at her straightly he 追加するd, "I care enough for you to think it would be 高級な there with you, and afterwards—Vienna—Paris—"

"I know what you mean, I am to get the money, but I have no 約束 in my 力／強力にするs—I know I cannot 説得する that fool to 離婚 his wife." She was trembling with vexation, with 失望. "Have you no 資源s?" she entreated.

"非，不，無. All were exhausted long ago. The mean price paid for the work here won't do any service for me—save to 支払う／賃金 my fare, say to America, where I could try my luck again."

"I understand that you 脅すd me," she 認める mournfully. "You know that you have become necessary to me—this is the first time you have said that you care for me—what does that mean?"

"I'll marry you, if you wish."

Many images flickered before her mind. She felt 圧倒するd by them, many 発言する／表明するs sounded in her ears, some of them with a 警告 公式文書，認める. Yet her 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるing emotion was one of humble 霧.

"Will you tell me something of yourself?" she asked, but it was the woman she had been who spoke and she did not 大いに care about the answer. His 申し込む／申し出 had been too sudden, too nicely 裁判官d, he knew that she would like a 儀式, even a sham one, and she was aware of this.

"A waste of time," he answered. "And we have so little. We could be married in Paris, at the English Church. But there is much to do first."

The 申し込む／申し出 was more than she had 推定する／予想するd. It made the 未来 （疑いを）晴らす, 確かな . Yet he was still a stranger to her and did not approach a step nearer to where she sat.

"Here are Susan Rue's letters," he said, taking them from his pocket and putting them on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "They are most 妥協ing and should mean a life's income for you from your 強いるd friend."

"I did not think so—害のない," the familiar word （機の）カム easily to her lips. "Surely they are 害のない?"

"Come here," he 命令（する）d gently.

Mrs. Sacret went to the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and he told her to take the uppermost letter and read it. She did so, with 開始するing astonishment, until she （機の）カム to the 署名—"your 有罪の but ever loving friend," then she ちらりと見ることd 支援する over the sheet and her quick hazel 注目する，もくろむs 選ぶd out such phrases as—"if it's ever known I should be 廃虚d"—"while I was still an innocent wife"—"guard my 有罪の secret, I implore you"; then she looked up at the painter who was 静かに watching her. "I don't remember this letter, why if I had ever had anything as 限定された as that in my 所有／入手 everything could have been different—"

"Yet it is her 手渡す, is it not, her paper, all exact? You could 断言する to it in a 法廷，裁判所 of 法律?"

"I suppose so—yes."

"And she could not 否定する it?"

"I don't think so. She doesn't remember what she wrote, that is why she is so 脅すd—"

"Then put it with the others and keep it carefully as your most 価値のある 所有／入手. She was a married man's mistress and if she wishes to 保存する her 評判 she should 支払う／賃金 for it."

"Of course—you are clever with the pen," said Mrs. Sacret smiling. "井戸／弁護士席, I see no 害（を与える）, there is no 自白 here of more than she is 有罪の of—if she had not been so sly, she would have been frank with me before. I never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd!"

"It is （疑いを）晴らす that you have a very pure mind, sweetheart!"

She 紅潮／摘発するd at his first direct endearment.

"I had. Never did it occur to me that Susan was not a good woman! If Frederick had known he would not have 許すd me even to speak her 指名する." She put the letters, tied together by a piece of twine, into her reticule, silently 公約するing that they should never go out of her 所有／入手 again. She felt a tinge of her former sense of 力／強力にする, as if Susan, for all her wealth and good fortune, were helpless in her unyielding しっかり掴む, yet she had a sense of baffled vexation because her 勝利 seemed still 延期するd.

"What are we to do?" she 需要・要求するd 真面目に.

"I shall show you."

He took a brushful of paint and lightly sketched on the landscape 直面するing the window a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of 人物／姿／数字s of 未亡人s in 激しい 嘆く／悼むing and 隠すs. In one Olivia Sacret, standing の近くに beside him, 認めるd herself in her cheap cumbrous 黒人／ボイコット. But this he at once effaced, and traced, in white and gray, the elegant 輪郭（を描く） of a 流行の／上流の lady. "Olivia Sacret becomes Olivia Bellis," he smiled.

"The other?"

"Your friend—the fair Mrs. Dasent, in 十分な crape—then, see, I rub her out, with the touch of a rag, and 取って代わる her with Mrs. ツバメ Rue—then she is in crape again—"

"But Susan is not again a 未亡人—"

"—and here she is," he continued, not 注意するing this interruption, "decked out for her third marriage—a 肩書を与えるd lady now. And how 感謝する she is to her friend Mrs. 示す Bellis for her good fortune, and what handsome 現在のs she makes her! Her third husband is very 強いるd also, he has a position to keep up and 願望（する）s old スキャンダルs hidden."

"It has not happened," sighed Mrs. Sacret.

"I shall show you how it is going to happen."

He took his palette, thinned his colors with turpentine and quickly drew in little scenes on the 乾燥した，日照りの painted foreground of the rocky landscape.

First there was a man in bed, a group of 人物／姿／数字s standing by, then the women, one giving the other a small 瓶／封じ込める, then a woman, painted large, 注ぐing the contents of the 瓶／封じ込める into a glass, then the man in bed again, receiving a glass from his nurse, then a shrouded 死体, and a funeral.

The little 人物／姿／数字s, often 示すd by no more than a 一打／打撃 or two of white or 有望な paint, had life and 活気／アニメーション. Their story was 明確に told.

"Ask him once more to 離婚 his wife," advised the painter, in a low トン, "then—井戸／弁護士席—it will be his own fault—"

Then her 指示／教授／教育s were already painted, for her to see.

"There will be no danger?" she whispered.

"非，不，無. Your West Indian 薬／医学 is known to be 害のない."

"But if some 疑惑 should be 誘発するd?"

The painter wiped away his little 人物／姿／数字s with his large soft rag, 堅固に 適用するd. The classic landscape showed serenely.

"非，不，無 will be. Have you not often heard that people who are unhappy take their own lives? Had you not better 警告する Dr. Virtue that his 患者 has made such 脅しs?"

"Yes, I suppose so. I 信用 you—"

"It is the only way."

"Where did—the woman in your sketch—find—what she put in the 瓶／封じ込める?"

"In an envelope between some letters in a 一括 tied with twine." He sketched some stables, horses in their 立ち往生させるs, a 瓶／封じ込める on a shelf labeled POISON, then wiped all away.

"She was—有能な of doing this?"

"She had to be, it was her one chance of pleasing the only person she wished to please. She was about to be turned out of a comfortable home, to lose all 適切な時期 of everything she 手配中の，お尋ね者—"

"Oh, I understand—" interrupted Mrs. Sacret.

"Yes, it was all there for you to see. No dangerous word spoken. You can always 断言する that—and keep your Noncomformist 良心."

"Susan might be 怪しげな. She does not 信用 me."

"You have the means of silencing her in that letter. And in the final 訴える手段／行楽地 that letter would 罪を負わせる her—she, not you, would have the 動機. I leave to you the 詳細（に述べる）s. Something left in her room, perhaps, in 事例／患者?"

He turned his 支援する on the painted 塀で囲む, as if he had done with the 支配する.

"It 残り／休憩（する）s with you," he 発言／述べるd. "I can so easily slip away, leaving no trace behind."

Olivia Sacret returned to the window and 星／主役にするd at the last roses, crimson, yellow, white, 落ちるing apart on their golden hearts. She felt a bitter envy of the woman to whom these delights so easily belonged, who did not have to work or intrigue for them. She was sure that she would have adorned a noble home like this far better than the feeble-looking creature whose miniature she had seen behind the globe of water.

The painter read her thought as he usually did.

"Catherine Fox Oldham will probably never live to return here," he 発言／述べるd. "She fades daily. This 控訴 of rooms will be shut up, the furniture will be covered, my 絵s will 割れ目 and stain—in a few years the place will be as dismal as those houses in the Pimlico squares—

"Never that," she retorted. "Here it will always be noble and elegant, even in decay."

"Still—envy no one," he advised. "If you have wit and courage good fortune is within your own reach."

Olivia Sacret felt tired. What she had to do seemed impossible, not because she dreaded it or disliked it, but because it seemed one of those things that did not happen. She could not realize it. She ーするつもりであるd to obey her 指示／教授／教育s but she could not feel that they would produce any results. The pattern of her life seemed 直す／買収する，八百長をするd. She saw herself forever in thrall to this man who remained a stranger, ツバメ Rue always peevish and 病んでいる, Susan always weeping and desperate—but nothing 限定された ever happening. Even the painter's 冷静な／正味の talk of marriage had not seemed real. She hardly 手配中の，お尋ね者 it to be real, she could not imagine him as a lover, as a husband, only as a master, and a stranger.

It was hateful to have to leave the beautiful room, the long gallery, the noble house, but the painter advised her that it was "getting late."

She shivered before the words—and did not move. As he opened a basket and served her a 冷淡な 昼食, she hardly ate or drank, even of the ワイン he sparingly 申し込む／申し出d her. She hardly answered when he asked her if she had a good 供給（する） of sherry and シャンペン酒 for Susan Rue—"better to keep her やめる bemused."

Mrs. Sacret knew that. She would be relieved when the whole episode was over and they could go away together "and I can discover what 肉親，親類d of man you really are."

She caressed her velvet reticule. She was glad she had that wonderful sedative for ツバメ Rue and now another 薬／医学 in the packet just given her that would その上の help him; she disliked to see anyone stiffer. What a wretched life he had! And how happy Susan would be if she got her freedom, either by 離婚 or—

She jerked her thoughts together, regarding the painter timidly. Their 関係, even their 知識, seemed fantastic. And it seemed fantastic also that she had ever been married to a missionary in Jamaica. As the recollection of what she had 苦しむd （機の）カム over her, she felt indignant, exasperated, 積極的な and her clasp 強化するd on the velvet 捕らえる、獲得する.

"You 似ている a little cat with claws in its prey," his pleasant 発言する／表明する 発言／述べるd. "Come, we must be leaving."

"What will you do with me, when we are together always?"

"I shall tell you—then," he replied tenderly. "There is so much, so many simple things of which you have been 奪うd—until our 事件／事情／状勢 at the Old Priory is over—I have asked you to marry me."

"Yes, but I can't believe it. It doesn't seem possible and I don't want to think about it. I suppose I don't really credit that you mean it—let it go."

"As you wish," but he did not speak flippantly, but in a トン of 関心 that gave her a strong thrill of nameless emotion. A 現実化 of all she had 行方不明になるd overcame her—and of what she had 行方不明になるd most of all, someone to think 井戸／弁護士席 of her, to prize her, to admire and 賞賛する her. She 紅潮／摘発するd as he approached her and 解除するd his 手渡す to his heart.

"You are a rare woman, a beauty. I have never met anyone like you. We shall be happy. Do you understand how rare happiness is?"

"I never dared to think of it," she whispered.

She drew away, afraid of her brilliant fortune—that yet had to be earned.

It was like breaking from a strong enchantment to leave the house, the grounds, to 直面する the return to the Old Priory and her disagreeable 仕事s that did not yet have much meaning for her. But she had to go. An old gardener with a scythe turned to look at them as they passed along the avenue.

"He is too far away to 認める you," 発言／述べるd the painter.

The gates were open, but a young woman, who perhaps had heard of the arrival of the painter's 訪問者, 星／主役にするd curiously from the little flower garden of the 宿泊する. The painter 動議d to Mrs. Sacret to go ahead. She heard him say, as she obeyed: "My sister—married to a Frenchman—Madame Dupont on a short visit to England." Olivia Sacret remembered Madame Dupont, the 在庫／株 wife and mother of the French lesson 調書をとる／予約するs. The recollection （機の）カム grotesquely to her agitated mind, with scenes in 行方不明になる Mitchell's school and Susan bringing her her translation to be done for her—and the invincible 退屈 of the sterile days for herself.

"Have you often been seen in that 衣装?" he asked.

"No, it is new—I put it on today, for the first time."

"Don't wear it again—it is charming, but 目だつ—let it be put away."

"How careful you are of my 評判! And I have forgotten that I ever had any."

He told her that he was not returning to town, but staying for the night at the village inn, the Lyndbridge 武器, in the morning he ーするつもりであるd to finish the 絵s at Lyndbridge House.

He left her at the 駅／配置する, a few moments before the train （機の）カム in and 圧力（をかける）d into her 手渡す, with a graceful gesture, a small garnet （犯罪の）一味. Forgetting the diamonds she 紅潮／摘発するd vividly with 激しい 楽しみ.

ｧ 21

ツバメ Rue looked a very sick man as he once more told Mrs. Sacret that she must leave his house and the 未亡人 told Susan this when repeating these 命令（する）s.

"Your husband is ill, and I think his mind is unsettled—are you not afraid he may do himself a mischief?"

"Oh, how horrible! What do you mean?"

"He is in a sad 明言する／公表する. You should 警告する Dr. Virtue. His 神経s are all to pieces. And he is やめる 解決するd that I should leave the house."

"Can't you sighed Susan, trembling.

"Of course, I mean to go. But I don't want to leave you like this—alone and wretched. And you would have to give me some money—"

"I don't know if I could get any—enough—"

Mrs. Sacret 軽蔑（する）d this 陳列する，発揮する of cowardice—Susan "lost her 長，率いる" to a really contemptible degree.

"You certainly could—your bank 経営者／支配人, or your lawyer would give you some and there must be some jewels you could sell—"

"I don't know how to do these things."

"You must get a little more courage and sense, dear—my 事件／事情／状勢s are in a bad way through spending so long here looking after you, and before I go I must have some money to put them straight. Say, a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs."

"A thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs!"

"It is such a foolish habit, Susan, to echo words. You used to be reproved for it at 行方不明になる Mitchell's—you could easily get a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs."

Susan began to weep and Mrs. Sacret paced up and 負かす／撃墜する the 高くつく／犠牲の大きい, ugly bedroom as she continued to admonish her friend.

"Do try to 支配（する）／統制する yourself. You are so eager for me to leave you—but I don't know what you would do without me—"

"I should be much better without you," 宣言するd Susan, sobbing miserably. "ツバメ dislikes you—you cannot, as you 約束d, 説得する him to 離婚 me—I cannot 固執する in keeping you here against his wishes. Oh, please go, and leave me alone with him!"

"What, have you given up Sir John?"

"I don't know!" wailed Susan. "I cannot elope when ツバメ is so ill—and ill because of me—and if I were alone with him I might induce him to let me go."

Olivia Sacret felt a 殺到する of almost desperate 怒り／怒る against this weak capricious creature, useless as a straw in the 勝利，勝つd. She paused before her, as she crouched in the 平易な 議長，司会を務める.

"I shall have to leave the house, I can see that," she said softly. "But I must have the money. Please understand that. No 疑問 Sir John would give it to you."

"Oh, I could not! And why should I ask him!"

"Don't be so shocked—as if you were a prude. You have a good （人命などを）奪う，主張する on Sir John. I've been looking at your letters again—really, I was so innocent myself, I took no particular 注意する of them, but your 行為 has been so 半端物, I read them carefully."

"What is there in them—直接／まっすぐに 妥協ing?" whispered Susan, 縮むing away from the 築く 人物／姿／数字 that stood between her and the light.

"How can you ask! You 調印するd one—'your 有罪の but loving friend'—you wrote 'guard my 有罪の secret, I implore you'—'if it were known, I should be 廃虚d'—'when I was still an innocent wife'—don't you 解任する those words?"

"No—I don't remember what I wrote," stammered Susan. "My brain was on 解雇する／砲火／射撃—I 信用d you—"

"You never told me Sir John was your lover," reproached Mrs. Sacret 厳しく. "I should never have 許容するd that."

"But you say I wrote that I was."

"I've only just しっかり掴むd the meaning of that letter. I read it あわてて. I, of course, thought you referred to some new indiscretion."

"What made you think it was anything more?"

"Your fright about the letters," replied Mrs. Sacret truthfully. "That and the 抱擁する 賄賂 you 申し込む／申し出d me—the sincere one."

"What a fool I have been!" sighed Susan with futile frantic gestures of her unsteady 手渡すs.

"You were always that. So you 自白する—he was your lover."

"You know—yes—"

"Still is, perhaps?"

"I have not seen him since my marriage. I have always loved him. I always shall—"

"Don't get hysterical. Does he know you wrote these foolish letters?"

"Of course not—Oh, he would be 悩ますd! The スキャンダル would 廃虚 him!"

"Then he would advise you to find the money."

"I daresay. Oh, I suppose I can get it—I have some jewels. I gave you a 価値のある bracelet."

"Oh, that! It was 価値（がある） very little. I 申し込む／申し出d it to be sold for the 利益 of a missionary society. I wonder you cast up a 現在の at me!"

Susan rose, it was as if she struggled to her feet against a pulling magnet at her feet and flounces.

"Are you selling me those letters, Olivia?"

"Of course not!" exclaimed Mrs. Sacret in 冷淡な 怒り／怒る. "I am 疲れた／うんざりした of you and your 事件／事情／状勢s. I （機の）カム to stay with you because you asked me, to support you against your 嫌悪すべき husband and his detestable mother. I tried to get a 離婚 for you, but Mr. Rue is impossible, a malade imaginaire, a nervous 難破させる. I think if he knew you are—a wicked woman—he would go out of his mind and kill himself."

"It would be cruel to tell him!"

"I think it is cruel to deceive him—but I want to be rid of your muddles. I want to leave the Old Priory, really I loathe the place and your way of life, so dull, so stupid—"

"Why, I believed you liked it—and surely it is better than Minton Street!" cried Susan amazed.

"One changes. I want to go abroad—to Italy, to Paris, to Como. Yes, to a 郊外住宅, a 城, on the shores of Lake Como—"

"I wish you could. I shall try to find the money—I have some emeralds at the bank that Captain Dasent gave me. ツバメ doesn't care to see them—then my lawyers—"

Mrs. Sacret broke in on this almost incoherent speech.

"Of course you can get the money. Say you want it 緊急に—for 私的な 推論する／理由s. Never について言及する my 指名する, that might lead them to thinking I knew something. Old Mrs. Rue was very quick to guess that—but I lied to save you. Your husband, too—"

"I don't think that he would believe anything against me."

悩ますd that Susan had chanced on this truth, Mrs. Sacret shook her swaying friend by the shoulder, and whispered energetically: "He would have to believe the letters, wouldn't he? Come, I have had a week's notice from your husband—I give you two days in which to find this money."

Susan recoiled and withdrew from the other's touch, making an 成果／努力 over her exhaustion, her despair.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, I shall get it," she said. "Today is Tuesday, is it not? 井戸／弁護士席 then—Thursday I shall get it, and you can leave on Friday—"

"I'll tell Mr. Rue," smiled Olivia. "Don't fail. A thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs—and perhaps some 宝石類. I shall go and pack."

She left the room 静かに.

ｧ 22

Methodically and taking 楽しみ in her 仕事, the missionary's 未亡人 用意が出来ている to leave the Old Priory. She had told the servants and Dr. Virtue that she had to visit an uncle in Jamaica, who was failing in years, and that she 推定する／予想するd to （問題を）取り上げる missionary work again in that remote island. To Mr. Rue she 単に 発表するd that she was "going abroad as companion to the 未亡人 of a Church of England clergyman." She did not 推定する／予想する him to be 利益／興味d, or even to credit this 声明. She 受託するd demurely his relieved 感謝. He 申し込む／申し出d her a handsome money 現在の that she 受託するd serenely. "As a proof of your 信用 in me," she 発言／述べるd.

Two bank 公式文書，認めるs for fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs each in a purse of knitted orange silk—such was the price that ツバメ Rue had 喜んで paid for her 出発. She had other plunder. Her new trunks were 十分な of handsome 着せる／賦与するs, ornaments and fripperies, the result of Susan's 恐れるs. Mrs. Sacret was surprised herself at the extent of her own extravagance and Susan's 証拠不十分, as she emptied drawers and cupboards of furs, satins, laces, kid slippers, lawn underwear and doeskin gloves.

She had visited Minton Street since her 取引 with Susan, and the painter had 賞賛するd her direct attack on her 犠牲者 and had agreed that if they could so easily get the thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs in cash, they could go ahead with that, and leave ツバメ Rue and his wife alone for a while until the money ran out "when the letters would he useful."

So Olivia Sacret felt 平易な and even proud, as she lay on her bed on that Thursday afternoon; her trunks were already locked and most of them, directed to Minton Street, were in the hall. 示す Bellis had left her house, but had 約束d to call there every day to learn her news. Once the money was 安全な・保証するd, they would in a few hours leave for Dover; neither had any 事件／事情／状勢s to arrange. The little house was already on the 調書をとる／予約するs of an 広い地所 スパイ／執行官 in High Street.

Yes, she 保証するd herself, she had managed very 井戸／弁護士席, there was no need for her to 解任する the sketches in diluted paint 示す Bellis had traced on the 塀で囲む at Lyndbridge House—they could be wiped from her memory as he had wiped them away with his soft rag.

It was only surprising that she had not brought off this "クーデター" and 簡単に 軍隊d Susan to give her the money before. What had given her that sudden energy that had bent the other woman to her will? Perhaps the knowledge that now she held, の中で those "害のない" letters, one that was really damning; perhaps her sense of the painter's impatience, what he had 描写するd for her to see, showed he was 解決するd at any cost on a 最高潮 to their fortunes. Then, perhaps also, a 縮むing from the means he had 示すd, a secret, 激しい, 冷淡な dread of the consequences. Certainly what he had 示唆するd appeared 絶対 安全な—but better this way.

Of course—she 保証するd herself, using, even in her thoughts, evasive feminine phrases, dictated by her native duplicity and her long training in hypocrisy—there was nothing in what 示す showed me—単に a suggestion that I use my sleeping draught, my sleeping 薬／医学, that did poor Frederick such good, for Mr. Rue. But it will be much better if I can get away without 干渉するing with Susan's stupid 事件／事情／状勢s at all. What a fool she is! She never questioned that letter—I suppose that she thinks she remembers 令状ing it—no 疑問 she hopes that I shall return it when I get the money. 自然に I shall not give it up. I wonder if she will elope with Sir John? Even if she does her stupid husband won't 離婚 her. And in that 事例／患者 the letter won't have much value. A pity that ツバメ Rue was so obdurate—if I could have induced him to 離婚 her I should have earned her 感謝 that way. But no, she will never run away. She is too timid and respectable. And she will always be afraid of her husband and his mother and Sir John—so I shall always be able to get money out of her. She will wish, I mean, always to see me comfortable. I shall be married to 示す and he will be famous—we shall have a smart house in Kensington or Bayswater.

Her reflections had faded into daydreams, then these had 突然の 消えるd. She could not 予知する any 未来 明確に enough even to dream about it. The painter had said nothing more about marriage, nor was she 関心d with that 事柄; as soon as they left London they would be の中で strangers and she would 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 herself "Mrs. 示す Bellis"—she already had a wedding （犯罪の）一味. That would 満足させる her. She stirred on her bed, the day was hot, the dust of a long 草案 had filled the 空気／公表する with 粒子s of grit. Mrs. Sacret longed for the 冷静な／正味の galleries, the long enfilade of Lyndbridge House, the empty rose garden, the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する room, the chestnut tree avenue—how tawdry and vulgar the Old Priory was! Even this bedchamber that she had had altered to 控訴 her own taste was displeasing, because of the 激しい dark pieces of furniture, the brilliant carpet, the large trellis pattern on the wallpaper—how glad she would be when she was away from all this painful pretense! The glasshouses, the livery, the melon 炭坑，オーケストラ席s, the vinery, the stables—非，不，無 really first class, all a show, a sham, compared to Lyndbridge House and 示す's descriptions of Paris and-Como. How ridiculous, too, ツバメ Rue's 成果／努力s at horsemanship; he kept two saddle horses, yet whenever he took a canter on the ありふれた he complained of stiffness for days, and last week he had been thrown and （機の）カム home limping. What a 悲惨 the man was, one way and another! It was really a pity that he had ever met silly Susan and 許すd her—a 未亡人 intriguing with a married man—to save her 指名する at his expense. How much happier he would have been if he had stayed with his horrid old mother who doted on him, and cosseted him into his imaginary illnesses!

井戸／弁護士席, it would soon be over. Susan had been out nearly all day yesterday, at her 銀行業者s and lawyers, she had whispered at 昼食, when she had 簡潔に appeared, wretched and sighing; she had, in a stammer, 約束d to を引き渡す the money after dinner, when the two ladies were alone in the pretty garden room where they had first met after their long 分離.

Everything would be very ladylike and genteel, and the missionary's 未亡人 could make a very dignified and decorous 出口.

She had, however, left nothing to chance; though so successful in her own 計画（する）, she had done everything possible to その上の that of 示す Bellis, even while not supposing that this would ever be used.

In the short time she had she had spread abroad hints of Mr. Rue's mental 条件, 恐れるs of his nervous 安定 and 疑問s as to his 願望（する） to live. She was not sure how far she believed these herself, she put a glaze on the 事柄 and 設立する it 平易な to credit her own tales.

Now, as she moved restlessly on the silken eider-負かす／撃墜する and feather bed, she 解任するd the important actor in Susan's 演劇 who had not yet entered the scene, though so much had been heard of him, and she wondered if she could not, before she left England, make some use of Sir John Curie.

She had felt a hankering to use her 力／強力にする over him before, and now she was more sure of herself. Because of the 損失ing letter the painter had 追加するd to her packet, because of Susan's 自白, and because she was soon to leave the country, it would not 事柄 what anyone thought of her. Besides, here was another ４半期/4分の1 in which she could （種を）蒔く her 疑問s as to ツバメ Rue's mental 安定, another person she could 伴う／関わる in her 計画／陰謀s, with 利益（をあげる） to herself. Sir John Curle, this rich, idle man, 借りがあるd her something, no 疑問 he would 支払う／賃金 井戸／弁護士席 to have his secret kept. 示す Bellis had "設立する out" a good 取引，協定 about him; he was 宗教的な, on the board of several charities, played the benevolent, pious squire on his 繁栄する 広い地所. It would be 同様に to let him know that she, Olivia Sacret, would have to be reckoned with, if not now, at least in the 未来.

解任するing the painter's advice and her teasing glimpse of the Lyndbridge splendor, she felt 積極的な toward this rich, fortunate man who was, she 説得するd herself, no better born than her own father and who enjoyed so much that was hers by 権利. Contrasting his lot with her own, she felt a stinging jealousy of him and of Susan, who had behaved so disgracefully—Susan with her two husbands and her illicit lover, all 豊富な men who had pampered her in her self-indulgence. How useless Susan was! And how しっかり掴むing! She had the effrontery to hope to be rid of ツバメ Rue in order that she might 伸び（る） a 肩書を与える, a 郡 position, and live luxuriously at 緩和する on the proceeds of three fortunes! What was a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs to her, whether she 伸び（る）d her 離婚 or not? Mrs. Sacret pulled the bell rope and when Curtis （機の）カム ordered the landau—Susan had the brougham, a one-horse 乗り物 she no 疑問 considered inconspicuous for her furtive errand to raise the money—and in gold, as her friend had 主張するd. The 未亡人 was obeyed quickly; the servants were very civil, she saw the 救済 in their 直面するs, they hardly disguised how glad they were that this was her last day in the Old Priory. She met ツバメ Rue in the hall, he was limping and complaining of "the 汚い brute" that had again thrown him. "It is no use for Dr. Virtue to order horseback riding for my 肝臓 unless I can find a 静かな 開始する," he complained, 追加するing "You are going to town?"

"Yes—shopping in 社債 Street," she smiled. "You know this is my last day of 高級な—I shan't 疲労，（軍の）雑役 your horses."

"I'm agreeable—as it is the last day," he replied rudely. The carriage was open for the 早期に afternoon was hot and the 日光 （疑いを）晴らす from a pure blue sky. Mrs. Sacret, who had 隠すd at the 底（に届く） of one of her trunks the brilliant 衣装 she had worn to Lyndbridge, was dressed becomingly in 激しい gray silk and carried a fringed parasol. Her 探検隊／遠征隊 was an adventure. She was 事実上の／代理 without orders, her master might not 認可する—but after her success in だまし取るing the money from Susan without 頼みの綱 to 疑わしい 策略, she felt 確信して of her own 力／強力にするs. It would be a lucky chance if she 設立する Sir John at home, and willing to see her, but the hazard was 価値（がある） the throw. She 解任するd the landau at the end of 社債 Street, bidding the man 演習 his horses in the park for an hour and a half, then 会合，会う her at the same place. She felt a thrill of pride when she 解任するd that this same fat, sulky fellow was like one of the overfed servants she had seen idling on their boxes that Sunday she had first called on Susan—then they had 代表するd a remote 高級な, now she gave her orders to one of them.

She knew, from Susan, Sir John's 演説（する）／住所—York 議会s, a 私的な arcade, aristocratic and 静かな, where the houses, enclosed by gates at either end, were let as expensive gentlemen's 議会s. Her luck served. The 年輩の manservant who opened the door looked, as had the butler who had 認める her, わずかに alarmed and 怪しげな. Ladies did not, at least unaccompanied, call at these bachelor 設立s.

But the 未亡人's impeccable 空気／公表する, her genteel 外見, her soft speech and the nature of her errand—事柄s 関心ing a 確かな famous charity with which Sir John Curle's 指名する was honorably associated—安全な・保証するd her admission to a waiting room, and then to the presence of the man about whom she knew so much, who was so important to her, but who was, as far as she knew, unaware of her 存在. She considered him with lively curiosity. She 裁判官d him nearer forty than thirty years of age and no more than pleasant in 外見. Had he not 所有するd the self-保証／確信 and 任命s of a gentleman he would have been insignificant. How surprising to know that this was Susan's secret lover, the man who was 原因（となる）ing her such 熱烈な 苦しめる!

Mrs. Sacret played with him awhile by telling him fart of the truth—that she was a missionary's 未亡人, and 熟知させるd with the work of さまざまな 宗教的な societies, with several of whom she had tried to find a 地位，任命する.

He listened courteously, impressed in her 好意 by her 静かな, almost sad manner and her pretty 発言する／表明する, and she 公式文書，認めるd the 従来の but 高くつく／犠牲の大きい furnishing of the room, his expensive 着せる／賦与するs, his 激しい gold watch chain, 調印（する）s and （犯罪の）一味, the lustrous pearl in his cravat. Then she struck delicately.

"I am staying with Mrs. ツバメ Rue—as a companion."

He winced, 紅潮／摘発するd and stammered, made a poor 回復 and congratulated her on her friendship with the 銀行業者's charming wife, watching her the while with his 肉親，親類d gray 注目する，もくろむs suddenly anxious.

"She has confided in me," said Mrs. Sacret. "I thought I should make your 知識 and tell you that—"

"Indeed—and why?" asked Sir John, now with a show of spirit. "It should make you 平易な to know that Mrs. Rue—Susan—has a true confidante 絶えず at her 味方する."

"How can that 関心 me, madam? Beyond the 楽しみ I have in 審理，公聴会 that an old friend—though one I have not seen since her second marriage—has so 望ましい a companion as yourself?"

"She has told me her story," smiled the 未亡人. "I tried to help her—to 説得する Mr. Rue into a 離婚."

"I know nothing of this."

"Oh, pray, Sir John! I am astonished that Susan has not told you of me and my services to her—"

"I know nothing of Mrs. Rue's 事件／事情／状勢s."

"You have written to her since Lady Curie's death—she has told me so. And I have letters she wrote to me before her marriage, letters that 証明する the nature of your friendship."

The 未亡人 enjoyed seeing the ill-隠すd 混乱 and alarm on the agreeable features of this man who, save for her 関係 with Susan she would never have met, was now in her 力／強力にする.

"Did Susan not について言及する me? Mrs. Sacret, of Minton Street?" she 圧力（をかける）d, leaning 今後 delicately.

"Perhaps—I don't know. Indeed you have me at a loss."

"Pray 安心させる yourself, Sir John. Though far, very far from 容赦するing Susan's 行為—so against my 原則s and my training—I shall never betray her. I have done my 最大の to 今後 her happiness by 勧めるing Mr. Rue to 始める，決める her 解放する／自由な. They are very 哀れな."

"And he—what does he say?"

"He is obstinate—heartless. He is aware that Susan's affections, her hopes, 嘘（をつく） どこかよそで, but he will not let her go. A sickly, peevish man, nervous and 安定性のない."

"Why do you come to me, Mrs. Sacret?" Sir John rose and paced the Turkey carpet. "Mrs. Rue is very indiscreet, 無謀な, poor girl—but I 保証する you there was nothing between us."

"Oh, you speak as a gentleman must! But I have her letters—a letter—that is explicit. Besides she 自白するd."

The 悩ますd man paused, confounded, before his demure tormentor.

"She—Susan—did that?"

"Yes, but you must not be afraid. I hope that you and Susan will be happy yet, and then I'm sure you'll remember the good friend I have been—"

"How—happy?—if her husband is obdurate?"

"He might change his mind. He might die—his health is wretched and he 主張するs on dosing himself with his own concoctions."

"Did you return these foolish letters to Susan?"

"I still have them," she smiled. "They are 安全な with me."

"Why do you not destroy them?" he 需要・要求するd 厳しく.

"They are precious souvenirs of Susan's friendship."

"What do you want, Mrs. Sacret?"

"Only to tell you that you can count on me," she replied, rising. "Mr. Rue has ordered me to leave the Old Priory and I am going abroad—for Susan's sake—not to 原因（となる） yet more dissension between her and her husband."

"Taking the letters with you

"Yes," she looked at him 刻々と and watched the dark 紅潮／摘発する 開始する under his 肌.

"You are in need, perhaps, of money, Mrs. Sacret?"

"I may be."

"令状 to me—I mean if I can help."

She could see that his predominant emotion was still bewilderment. He was as amazed as if a poisonous snake had crept into his sedate room from the 削減する geraniums in his tiled window box. Though he was making a gallant 試みる／企てる to keep his 長，率いる, he was far from 存在 able to do so, and 紅潮／摘発するd and stammered, repeating "令状 to me—if you are in need—money."

How easily he has given himself away, she thought contemptuously. I might have been 単に tricking him, 事実上の／代理 on gossip—everything I said might have been 誤った—he betrayed himself at once, as she did, 犯罪 has no courage.

She stood thoughtfully, slowly buttoning and unbuttoning her pale gray glove. Better not take any money now, though it was a 誘惑 to do so. Better 設立する herself as a disinterested friend with a hint of menace, perhaps when the thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs she would receive from Susan was spent—and she knew nothing of how far such a sum would go, lavished in a foreign country on 高級なs—it would be useful to be able to 適用する to Sir John Curle, 同様に as to Susan herself, for その上の 基金s.

And she was almost sure, now that she had seen the 反対する of Susan's errant passion, that there would be no elopement. The man matched Susan in social timidity, in conventionality. Mrs. Sacret could hardly see him 直面するing a 離婚 控訴, let alone a スキャンダル that would の近くに society—even England—to him, 削減（する） him off from 合法的 children, from all his respectable 利益／興味s.

How curious, she 反映するd, was the emotion that had cast these two ordinary, simple people together—strong enough to induce them to break the 法律s they really 深い尊敬の念を抱くd and to 危険 the 没収される of so much that they prized, but not strong enough to enable them to 反抗する the world and find their happiness 単独で with one another.

As Mrs. Sacret had いつかs considered how little she knew of the intricate and gigantic city in which she lived, so now she considered how little she knew of the men and women she 遭遇（する）d daily in that city and who were, on the surface, so 正統派の. Who could have guessed that the silly, idle, selfish Susan was 有能な of a tenacious passion? Or who would have 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that Sir John Curle could' be a 熱烈な lover? Or that either of them could manage a secret intrigue, with all the lies, deceptions and subterfuges that must have been necessary! It was true that they had been "talked about," but nothing 限定された had been discovered, and each had 保存するd social position and 評判.

Mrs. Sacret wondered how it had been done, where they had met, who had been 賄賂d, who knew...

She smiled brilliantly but did not 危険 持つ／拘留するing out her 手渡す. "信用 in my friendship for Susan," she repeated emphatically.

Sir John hurriedly approached her and 掴むd the 手渡す she had 恐れるd he might 辞退する to touch.

"You have 地雷, if I may 申し込む／申し出 it," he replied 熱望して. "Poor, poor girl, poor dear soul. She is so good—as you, knowing her, must he aware—I am wholly at her service—pray 保証する her of that. Stand by her, Mrs. Sacret—and I—we—I mean our 感謝 will be unbounded."

"式のs, I am turned out of the house, but I shall do what I can."

He dropped her 手渡す, but still appeared, she thought, to 信用 her yet there was a touch of 疑問, perhaps of horror, in his ちらりと見ること as he gazed at her uncertainly.

"I shall 令状 to you," she 保証するd him, moving gracefully toward the door. "And do not be 苦しめるd about Susan, she keeps up her spirit wonderfully."

Without waiting for a reply, she let herself out and thoughtfully descended the dark stairs and 横断するd the empty arcade. Her last 発言／述べる, she thought, had been wise, for it would upset her 計画（する）s if after all Sir John, driven frantic by 恐れるs for Susan, were to go to the Old Priory and create a スキャンダル—then the letters would be worthless.

As she drove—for the last time she supposed—to the Old Priory, her parasol 攻撃するd against the sun, she 反映するd ironically on Sir John's love for Susan; for she believed that the commonplace man did love the commonplace woman—how tenderly he had spoken of Susan, who was so useless, spoiled and stupid! Love—it was strange indeed. Was love her feeling for the painter, the explanation of the 完全にする mastery he had over her? She did not know. It was pleasant to 運動 in the cushioned carriage, she hoped she would be able to have this 高級な when abroad—she would like to learn to ride. Would this be possible in Paris—in Italy? She thought of フラン, of Madame Dupont, from the lesson 調書をとる／予約するs at 行方不明になる Mitchell's, of the words she had used about ツバメ Rue—malade imaginaire from the same 調書をとる／予約する, a scene from a French play, yes, it was 半端物 how the words had come into her mind, because of the 協会 with Madame Dupont, she supposed. Just as now, thinking of horses, she 解任するd the painter's sketch of stables, the open drawer and the 瓶／封じ込める, but she 辞退するd to 解任する the word he had drawn on the label, as she 辞退するd to 解任する the word that had impressed her—how long ago that seemed!—when she had been searching the SITUATIONS VACANT column in the morning newspaper.

Instead she would think of love. Did 示す Bellis love her as Sir John Curle loved Susan? He had not 示唆するd any amorous intrigue and they had had 適切な時期s such as rarely （機の）カム the way of eager lovers—eager—no, he was not that, he had not even kissed her. He had staidly 提案するd marriage and called her, once, "sweetheart." He had, however, made golden 約束s for a golden 未来, and that was 十分な. The fascination he had for her was not, she believed, of the same 質 as that which Sir John Curie had for Susan. Hers must be a far colder temperament for she had no 願望（する） for embraces, for any manifestation of passion—indeed, she would have been shy and ぎこちない had he shown any—perhaps he understood that. But one day, when they had 緩和する, when they had escaped from all that reminded her of her former life, then she would 許す him, would 推定する／予想する him to teach her to love him.

ｧ 23

As Mrs. Sacret entered the hall at the Old Priory, the dinner bell rang and Susan （機の）カム hurriedly out of the dining room. "Don't change—as you are leaving tomorrow—that dress is very pretty—where have you been?" she exclaimed all in a breath; she looked worn and untidy in an expensive taffeta gown carelessly put on, her abundant blond curls 落ちるing carelessly from the crooked 徹底的に捜すs.

"Making use of the landau for the last time," smiled Mrs. Sacret. "Making a few 購入（する）s." She held up some elegant 一括s as ツバメ Rue （機の）カム along the passage, and her 注目する，もくろむs asked a question that Susan answered in a nervous whisper—"I 港／避難所't got the money—but—"

The young man drew his wife away toward the dining room. For all his friendly smile, the 活動／戦闘 was an 侮辱 that the 未亡人 felt furiously. And Susan had not got the money, 延期するs, excuses—she might have known. She took off her 攻撃するd hat and seated herself carefully in her place. She felt humiliated, cheated, that it would be unendurable to 延期する her 出発 from England even for a day—intolerable to go to Minton Street tomorrow and 自白する that she had failed. Perhaps Susan was getting the money tomorrow, she had said—"but—" as her husband had drawn her away. That means I must stay here longer, if I leave the house without the money, I shall never get it. She asked for sherry and, 関わりなく ツバメ Rue's frown, filled her own glass and Susan's several times.

"You should take some, Mr. Rue, it would help your stiffness."

"Oh, I am better. I was out in the paddock this afternoon. I had a warm bath with 情熱 just now, and I had Curtis save the water and shall take another in the morning."

There was Marsala and Burgundy on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Mrs. Sacret had asked for the ワイン ーするために 悩ます her host and he had not 辞退するd her. "Your last dinner, Mrs. Sacret," he 発言／述べるd pointedly, but he 抗議するd several times at Susan's drinking of sherry. She 答える／応じるd tearfully, and 宣言するd, as the savory was placed on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, that she had a 頭痛 and would go to bed 早期に.

That is to 避ける an explanation with me, thought Mrs. Sacret 激しく. She ーするつもりであるs to keep her room until I am gone tomorrow. She turned to ツバメ Rue and asked, "Would it inconvenience you if I were to stay a few days longer?"

His 直面する became livid, the loathing he had been repressing for so long embittered his 発言する／表明する as he replied: "You must leave tomorrow, 早期に—as arranged. I 主張する."

How ugly and hateful he is! she thought furiously, that sand-colored hair—those yellow-green 注目する，もくろむs! And a complexion like bad fat—perhaps they have plotted this between them—to cheat me out of my money—to turn me out.

"I 主張する," he repeated, leaning across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

"Of course," said Susan fearfully. "Olivia is going—all her luggage is in the hall."

Mrs. Sacret was silent. She could not 命令（する） her 激怒（する）. She believed that they had made some 肉親，親類d of 一時的な 協定／条約 ーするために be rid of her. ツバメ Rue had 誇るd of his 影響（力） over his wife, he had shown that he would not believe any evil of her, perhaps she had even 自白するd that her friend was wringing money from her, and about the letter, and he had 申し込む／申し出d to 保護する her.

In that 事例／患者, I have lost—I shall not get the money. It is true I could sell that letter to old Mrs. Rue—or to Sir John—but that would mean 延期するs—I can't wait—示す would not wait.

Susan rose, with looks of fright. "I shan't go to the garden room," she murmured. "I really must 残り／休憩（する）."

Her husband got to his feet, he was 紅潮／摘発するd from three glasses of Burgundy, and opened the door. Again Mrs. Sacret was 怪しげな of an understanding between them. She also left the room, and in her own bedchamber, now stripped of all her personal 所有／入手s, paused, uncertain what to do, then went to the window and threw it up on the autumn dusk. On the sill was the withered stick that had once been the vivid salvia that ツバメ Rue had given her. She 解任するd that his glasshouses had seemed much neglected lately and few flowers from them were seen in the house. She の近くにd the window and her 手渡す の近くにd over the 黒人／ボイコット velvet reticule that hung from her waist by a silver chain; the letters were in the 底（に届く） of one of her trunks, but she had a little packet 安全に in the purse. She heard 発言する／表明するs outside on the stairway and crept to her door, setting it ajar. Susan was asking the housemaid to bring her up a 瓶／封じ込める of Marsala to her bedroom, repeating her orders in a 混乱させるd fashion. Mrs. Sacret ちらりと見ることd up at her as she stood on the staircase, a 厚かましさ／高級将校連 can of hot water in her 手渡す. Her husband （機の）カム out into the passage below, then up the stairs.

"You have sent 負かす／撃墜する for more ワイン," he whispered reproachfully. "You had too much at dinner."

"I want it to make me sleep," Susan muttered.

"I wish sleep were so easily 得るd," he replied 激しく. "I have not been able to sleep for weeks."

Mrs. Sacret （機の）カム out の上に the 上陸.

"Let me give you some of poor Frederick's 薬／医学," she 示唆するd. "I meant to leave the recipe, as you say it does you so much good. Then I'll say good night and good-by—as I shall be leaving 早期に in the morning." She saw, even in the uncertain light of the stairway lamp, his 直面する （疑いを）晴らす with 救済 at that, and he 受託するd the 薬／医学, more, she thought, from good will at her 譲歩 than a 願望（する） for it, though it had always given him 平易な slumbers.

She quickly returned with a tumbler and 申し込む／申し出d it modestly to Susan, who was still waiting sullenly for her ワイン.

"Do you give it to your husband, Susan, when he is ready for bed." Susan took the tumbler indifferently.

"Perhaps I should take some," she 示唆するd.

"Oh, no, that would be too strong for you. I only take a few 減少（する）s—a man can have more—I mixed that for Mr. Rue."

She watched them go upstairs. On the 上陸 above, Mr. Rue, 説 he would "be glad to get some sleep," 受託するd the glass from his wife and went into his dressing room. Mrs. Sacret thought that he would have ぐずぐず残るd and spoken with Susan had he been alone with her.

I could go up now and ask her about the money, but she is 解決するd to 避ける me—here is the maid with the ワイン—and now she goes in and shuts her door.

Mrs. Sacret 退却／保養地d into her own room and, without lighting her lamp, returned to the window and leaned out, her 肘s on the dusty sill, beside the dead 工場／植物.

ｧ 24

She wondered what would happen, perhaps nothing. How intolerable this waiting was! She wished that she were 解放する／自由な of it all, away across the sea, or in that enchanted landscape that the painter had evoked for her, that he had painted on the 塀で囲むs of the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する room in Lyndbridge House ... always this waiting. Would it look better to undress? Probably, though the hour was still 早期に; she began, standing in the dark, to unbutton her light gray bodice.

Then she thought that she should light the lamp lest it would look 半端物, and had hardly 始める，決める the small 炎上 in the rosy 水晶 globe when there was an 緊急の knock at her door. Mrs. Sacret stood silent and Curtis entered, evidently 脅すd from her grim 直面する.

"Oh, ma'am, the master is taken very ill!"

"One of his usual attacks, I suppose," murmured the 未亡人.

"I don't rightly know, ma'am—he is fearfully bad—（犯罪の）一味ing of his bell and when I went up, he was 崩壊（する）d on the 床に打ち倒す, calling for hot water. Did you not hear?"

"No. I was at the window. Have you fetched your mistress?"

"She's asleep—already—" replied the maid reproachfully, "it's that last glass of ワイン—as the master always said, she shouldn't take so much. I can't 誘発する her, and he keeps on calling for her."

"Mind what you say, pray do," rebuked Mrs. Sacret はっきりと, refastening her bodice. "I know a good 取引，協定 about nursing—I was able to help your master before, I shall come at once."

"Perhaps some of that 薬／医学 you gave him before?" 示唆するd Curtis.

"I have 非，不，無 left. I took the last myself, いつか ago—besides I saw Mrs. Rue give him a draught in a tumbler, on the stairs just now, one must not mix the doses. Why don't you go upstairs and …に出席する to your master?"

"I dare not—he is so ill."

"Fie—it is probably only one of his nervous attacks—but you had better send one of the grooms for Dr. Virtue."

"The men will be abed."

"You must 誘発する them, if it is a 事柄 of 緊急." Mrs. Sacret went 堅固に past the agitated maid and to the dressing room beside the main bedroom that opened also 直接／まっすぐに の上に the stairs.

ｧ 25

When Dr. Virtue arrived, two hours later, he 設立する his 患者 unconscious on the bed that 占領するd one 塀で囲む of the dressing room, while Mrs. Sacret was rubbing his chest with 情熱 and water. Susan, fully dressed, disheveled and dazed, was sitting uselessly on a 議長，司会を務める by the curtained window. The housemaids were coming to and fro with cans and 水盤／入り江s; the room smelled pungently of eau de cologne and lavender water.

"Oh, doctor!" moaned Susan. "What is the 事柄? He looks like death! When I （機の）カム in he was insensible on the 床に打ち倒す."

"Hush," put in Mrs. Sacret. "Of course it is most 苦しめるing, but it is only one of his usual nervous seizures." Briskly she told the doctor now 診察するing ツバメ Rue of the sudden 崩壊（する） and her own 試みる／企てるs to 補助装置 the sick man. Strong smelling salts and an emetic had relieved him, he had 回復するd his senses 十分に to struggle の上に the bed, then fainted again. "It is, of course, 神経s," she repeated 堅固に.

"No," 発表するd the 内科医, looking up from the 傾向がある, partly undressed man, whose drink he still held. "Mr. Rue seems to be 毒（薬）d."

"One of his 汚い 薬／医学s," replied Mrs. Sacret calmly. "He will dose himself."

"I mean a deadly 毒（薬）—what are there in the house?"

"非，不，無!" cried Susan, rising impulsively and coming to the bed unsteadily. "This is terrible—what do you mean?"

"There are 毒（薬）s in the house," 訂正するd Mrs. Sacret coolly. "Mr. Rue 所有するs laudanum, chloroform—and camphor—that is a 毒（薬）, is it not? Besides the gardeners would have arsenic."

"This is not, I think, either laudanum or chloroform," said Dr. Virtue, 厳粛に, "but some corrosive 毒（薬）—his pulse is very feeble."

"He has been vomiting violently," said Mrs. Sacret. "Even when half unconscious—he seemed in 広大な／多数の／重要な 苦痛, also—but I never thought of anything but his 神経s."

"I should like another opinion, can you send Rogers for Dr. Lemoine? I can give an 注射 of brandy—"

Susan began to weep, frantically asking "if there was any hope?"

"How strange to be so desperate!" exclaimed the 未亡人 in reproof of this despair, but the 内科医 said that "it would be 井戸／弁護士席 to 準備する for the worst."

At this Mrs. Sacret 表明するd herself as incredulous and 大きくするd on the suddenness of the attack and its similarity to others Mr. Rue had 苦しむd. Dr. Virtue, having given his 注射, searched the room, and in a small 閣僚 設立する the 患者's Indian wicker basket of 薬／医学s, の中で which were the 麻薬s Mrs. Sacret had について言及するd. The 瓶／封じ込めるs were almost 十分な.

"He had hardly time to mix himself anything," moaned Susan. "I was 誘発するd before I had undressed—it was only a few moments since I had parted from him."

"You are wrong," 訂正するd Mrs. Sacret はっきりと. "You were very ひどく asleep—it must have been half an hour before you （機の）カム in. I was here much sooner, but there could have been time for him to have dosed himself."

"You had better go to your room, Mrs. Rue," advised the 内科医. "Mrs. Sacret is an admirable nurse, and you have not the strength for what you might have to 証言，証人／目撃する if you stayed," and he looked at her with the 必然的な exasperation of a 医療の man for a woman who loses her self-支配（する）／統制する in a 危機.

But Susan would not go. Shaking her 長，率いる and weeping, she returned to the 議長，司会を務める by the window.

ｧ 26

"Mrs. Sacret did what had to be done for the sick man while Dr. Virtue waited downstairs for Dr. Lemoine. She carried out his directions scrupulously. The room was clean, perfumed, the linen fresh, the fomentations 絶えず 新たにするd, the maids dutifully at the orders of one so 有能な. But uneasy reflections were spinning in Mrs. Sacret's mind as she went about her 義務s. She had been 極端に startled when the 内科医 had spoken so すぐに and so confidently of 毒（薬）. She had 推定する／予想するd this illness to pass as the others had passed—as a nervous seizure. The 医療の opinion altered her 計画（する）s かなり. There was much she could not dwell on—there was much she must carefully 解決する. It was still dark when Dr. Lemoine arrived. Mrs. Sacret heard his carriage wheels and, going to the window and pulling the curtains apart, saw his carriage lights.

"On the 始める，決める of "So Evil My Love" — Ann Todd and the Make-up Artist

"Do collect yourself," she whispered tartly to Susan, "this is a serious 状況／情勢."

Susan gave her a wild ちらりと見ること.

"But you won't make it an excuse to stay, will you? I can manage, I shall get a nurse."

"Of course I shall stay, as you can't get the money."

"It is coming—a messenger is bringing it—and the jewels, about midday."

"You fool! Why didn't you tell me!"

"I was going to, but ツバメ pulled me away."

Mrs. Sacret controlled herself with a strong 成果／努力.

"Do watch out and be careful, Susan," she whispered, "and mind you give me that money, 内密に, the moment it comes and then I shall leave the house."

With this she 急いでd downstairs and arrived in the hall as Curtis was admitting Dr. Lemoine. Snatching at his sleeve she said, with the accent and look of terror: "Oh, I am sure he has taken 毒（薬）! Chloroform!"

Dr. Virtue （機の）カム out of the dining room and overheard. "That is a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 声明, Mrs. Sacret—it 量s to a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of 試みる／企てるd 自殺—you did not say anything of this to me."

"I did not like to について言及する it, I supposed he would 回復する—now he seems worse, and I must speak. When I first ran in to him he moaned—lying on the 床に打ち倒す in agony—'I have taken 毒（薬） for Curle.'"

"Pray be 慎重な!" exclaimed Dr. Virtue, startled.

"Oh, you have no idea what this 世帯 is like—how jealous he was and what 原因（となる） she gave!" sobbed the 未亡人.

The two 内科医s went upstairs, sent the distracted wife out of the room and made their examination together. The two friends waited in Susan's bedroom, where a pink shaded lamp was 燃やすing and, at Mrs. Sacret's orders, a small 解雇する／砲火／射撃 had been lit.

"I wonder you take on so, Susan. Remember—if this illness should be 致命的な, it would be a happy 解答 to your problem."

"I don't understand—it is 絶対 horrible—I never saw anyone so ill before—he is so yellow and shrunken."

"Bah! All sickness is disgusting. I had enough with Frederick and hope to see no more of it. But you need not stay in the room. You are やめる useless, and I am doing everything. I feel exhausted and nauseated—I dealt with that horrible vomiting."

"Don't—I feel sick myself."

"Ask for some ワイン, Curtis won't 辞退する you now. I have no more in my room—you drank the last yesterday. Do keep your spirits up a little. You will have to take in that money and 調印する a 領収書 for it, if you wish to get rid of me."

Susan took this advice, which was also that of the 内科医s when they returned from the dressing room; the wretched wife was unfit to remain on her feet, and though she 辞退するd to undress, lay on her bed, covered by an eider 負かす／撃墜する, after swallowing a glass of Marsala.

Mrs. Sacret returned to the sickroom and assumed 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 世帯. She listened 厳粛に to the 医療の opinion—"dying of a powerful irritant 毒（薬）"—and 示唆するd that a specialist should be sent for, and について言及するd a distant cousin of ツバメ Rue's she had heard of, the 井戸／弁護士席-known Sir Charles Collier, of Harley Street, and 上級の 内科医 of King's College Hospital. Drs. Virtue and Lemoine readily agreed, they were 明白に at a loss and glad to 株 their 当局. They also 示唆するd that old Mrs. Rue should be sent for, and the 未亡人 was 強いるd to agree without 存在 able to 反映する whether this would 控訴 her 計画（する）s or not.

So, about five o'clock in the morning the brougham was sent to fetch Sir Charles, and the landau to fetch the 患者's mother.

すぐに afterwards ツバメ Rue 回復するd consciousness and Dr. Virtue at once began to question him. "What have you been dosing yourself with? Are you （疑いを）晴らす in your mind? Do you know me and understand what I am 説?"

"やめる 井戸／弁護士席." The hoarse 発言する／表明する coming with difficulty from the swollen lips made the attentive 未亡人 start a little. It was almost as if she had heard the dead speak, the sick man seemed to have been silent so long—yes, the sleepless night had been very long. She trembled where she stood, feeling 大いに 疲労，（軍の）雑役d.

"Then, my dear fellow, what have you been taking?"

"I rubbed my 直面する with a little laudanum for neuralgia and I may have swallowed some," （機の）カム the difficult whisper.

"Laudanum won't explain your symptoms," said Dr. Virtue, to which the sick man replied wearily, "I have taken nothing else—no, if it wasn't that, I don't know what it was."

"You spoke of having taken 毒（薬） to Mrs. Sacret," put in Dr. Lemoine. "What was it and why did you take it?"

"I don't remember 説 that—I was suddenly ill, and called out for Susan."

Mrs. Sacret drew Dr. Virtue aside and whispered.

"It is true—I should have told you—he said, 'I have swallowed 毒（薬） but don't tell Susan.'"

"Did you not 需要・要求する what 毒（薬）?"

"No—I was too alarmed—I 急ぐd for an emetic that I gave. He was soon unconscious."

Returning to the 病人の枕元, Dr. Virtue repeated his question.

"Did you not take 毒（薬）?"

"No—nothing but the laudanum."

"Is there any 毒（薬） in the house?"

"The laudanum and chloroform in my 薬／医学 basket, and ネズミ 毒（薬） in the stable."

The doctors drew apart, bewildered and uneasy. Mrs. Sacret （機の）カム 今後 and took up her 駅／配置する, relieving as she could the paroxysms of the sick man, that again began to shake him with agony.

ｧ 27

When Sir Charles Collier arrived at the Old Priory, the daylight was flowing into the sickroom, and the 患者 was 部分的に／不公平に unconscious. All Mrs. Sacret's experience and care had not availed to rid the room of disorder, disagreeable odors and the unpleasant litter attendant on a serious illness; 'she, also, looked pale and わずかに disheveled. Both the attendant 内科医s spoke 温かく of her skillful and energetic nursing.

ツバメ Rue glared from his pillows with sunken, red and angry 注目する，もくろむs. Questioned yet again by Sir Charles Collier as to what he had taken he replied with weak 怒り／怒る—"If I knew I should not have sent for you—what the devil do I want three doctors for if I know what is wrong with me?"

"病気 won't account for your 明言する／公表する," said Sir Charles 厳粛に. "You are 毒（薬）d and must know, tell us how you （機の）カム by it."

"I have said all I know."

"Have you nothing on your mind? You are in 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な danger."

"I should like my wife to come. I have left her everything—she is my 単独の executrix. I have not led a 宗教的な life."

"Fetch Mrs. Rue," said Sir Charles.

Dr. Virtue left the room. The sick man turned about in a spasm of 苦痛.

"Has the vomiting 中止するd?" asked Sir Charles, turning to the self-任命するd nurse.

"About an hour ago—he seems too weak now."

"Nothing was kept?"

"Oh, no of course not. I had to see that the room was fresh."

The sick man seemed to overhear this and muttered: "What a fuss. I hope I'm buried 静かに. Such a fuss. Where is Susan?"

"Dr. Virtue has gone to fetch her, she has been 残り／休憩（する）ing. Now think again, ツバメ, you have taken much more than laudanum. If you can tell us what it is it may help us to find an antidote," 勧めるd Sir Charles, bending over the piled pillows where ツバメ Rue lay slackly.

"Before God, I took only laudanum."

"If you die without telling us," said Dr. Lemoine, "someone may be 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd of having 毒（薬）d you."

"I know, but I can tell you nothing more."

Dr. Virtue returned, supporting Susan, who appeared little refreshed by her few hours' 残り／休憩（する）. Curtis had helped her to change her dress, and she wore a loose dressing gown with pale yellow lace flounces. At sight of her, the sick man tried to struggle up in bed and gasped, "What a bother I am to you, Susie, do 許す me."

This was the first time that the 未亡人 had heard the use of this pet 指名する. It 怒り／怒るd her to see how blind was ツバメ Rue's 約束 in his wife—how strange that he did not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う her! How stupid of him to feel this loving 信用／信任, and to have 再確認するd his will that left her everything! She would be a rich woman indeed, and with no one to 監督する her 支出. That thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs would be but a small 前進する.

Mrs. Sacret took the 議長，司会を務める by the window place where Susan had sat the day before and watched the scene taking place around the bed that she had so frequently …に出席するd to during the past tedious hours, 配列し直すing, changing 国／地域d linen, smoothing pillows and coverlet.

The 内科医s were men of elegant and distinguished 外見. にもかかわらず the 迅速な 召喚するs after they had retired to bed, they were 正式に dressed, and each had an 空気／公表する of serene, detached 当局 that contrasted はっきりと with the dreadful 面 of the dying man, and the haggard 悲惨 of his wife. Sir Charles, in particular, had a handsome 外見. With the 確信して 面 of 早期に success and a 厳粛に responsible 地位，任命する, he looked with a piercing earnestness from his 患者 to the weeping woman who drooped over him, wailing incoherently, and frowned in the 絶対の 集中 of his attention. わずかに behind him were the other two doctors, silent and watchful.

Mrs. Sacret triumphantly compared them all with the painter, to their disadvantage.

ツバメ Rue, in contrast to the dark and 激しい attire of the 内科医s, wore only a nightshirt that he had torn open on his chest that was covered, like his chin, with light-colored hairs.

"Oh, ツバメ, ツバメ! Who would have thought it would have come to this," moaned Susan, and the sick man seemed to glow with 楽しみ at her 苦しめる on his に代わって, even in the throes of his own deadly 苦痛.

"There, there, Susie—I shall be all 権利."

"ツバメ—" interrupted Sir Charles 厳粛に. "You must consider your 状況／情勢 and all you say and do. I can give you no hope."

"I know that—I know I am going to appear before my 製造者—I have spoken the truth—I have told them all that I have taken nothing hut laudanum."

"I must 受託する that," replied the 内科医, and turning to his 同僚s he bade them 耐える 証言，証人／目撃する to what the dying man had said, 追加するing that he believed him to be fully conscious and in 完全にする 所有／入手 of his senses.

"Is there really no hope for me?" whispered ツバメ Rue, fumbling for his wife's limp 手渡す on his pillow. "Now—if Susie really cares a little, I'd like to have another chance—"

"There is hardly any life in you, I 恐れる," answered Sir Charles. "Do, pray, consider that."

"Can I have something to relieve this infernal 苦痛?"

Mrs. Sacret （機の）カム 今後.

"I am sure the 情熱 poultices help him," she 勧めるd.

"No, no," replied Sir Charles. "He has been tormented enough already."

"Then some doses of arsenicum—he has it in his 薬／医学 chest."

"I ordered that before," explained Dr. Virtue. "It relieved the sickness, but now that is over—"

As if soothed by his wife's の近くに presence, the 患者 fell into a slumber or stupor, and Susan withdrew silently and quickly.

Sir Charles advised both the ladies to take some refreshment and repose. There was nothing more that anyone could do for ツバメ Rue.

ｧ 28

Olivia Sacret waked from a light sleep to find that it was past midday by the blue enamel traveling clock on her 病人の枕元 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. She rose, adjusted her hair and dress and went lightly through the hushed house to Susan's room.

"How punctual you are!"

The 未亡人 looked 熱心に at her friend who was pacing about restlessly, still wearing her dressing gown.

"Yes, I have just wakened. Have you the money? Was the messenger punctual, also? How is your husband?"

"Yes, the bank messenger （機の）カム, at the 一打／打撃. No one noticed him—there are so many people in the house now, five doctors, old Mrs. Rue and her maid—and no one thinks of anything else save ツバメ. I was able to watch out and go to the door myself. I 調印するd the 領収書—here is the gold."

Susan spoke 速く, almost incoherently, in a slurred トン; the 未亡人 noticed glasses 示すd by milk and ワイン on the dressing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. She began to feel a pang of hunger herself.

"Five doctors!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, I sent for two others before Sir Charles （機の）カム—and old Mrs. Rue brought her own. ツバメ is the same, asleep or in a swoon. Here is the money, packets of 君主s, as you asked—two chamois leather 捕らえる、獲得するs and a 事例／患者—here are the emeralds, too. Now will you give me the letters—and go?"

"How bulky and 激しい—I never thought it would be so—never mind, I 手配中の，お尋ね者 it in gold. Yes, I am going, and you shall have the letters. I shall fetch them."

"Do be quick and secret," implored Susan. "Mrs. Rue is desperate. I don't know what she thinks or what I think. Oh, where can ツバメ have got this horrible stuff! His mother is watching me, but would not leave him so I was able to slip away to the door!"

"He took it himself," whispered Mrs. Sacret. "He told me so—and do 支配（する）／統制する yourself—it is 井戸／弁護士席 known what 条件 you were on and this emotion will seem overacted."

ｧ 29

The 未亡人 did not return to her friend's bedroom, but left the house with her luggage, 含むing the letters, 安全に at the 底（に届く） of a trunk and the gold and jewels in a bulky 手渡す valise; she had not had time to do more than take a ちらりと見ること at the emeralds in the green leather 事例／患者 but she had seen that a splendid treasure was 始める，決める in the white velvet lining. Rogers fetched a cab for her, as both the carriages had been out that night, and helped carry her かなりの baggage, but Curtis ran up to her in the hall and 表明するd 狼狽 at her 出発. "Surely, ma'am, you won't leave the poor mistress, now!"

"I thought you would be glad to see me go," smiled Mrs. Sacret. "You've never been very civil, Curtis. You would never do my hair. Never mind, I learned to do it myself. I really don't know if I can return or not. I have my own 事件／事情／状勢s to …に出席する to—no 疑問 Mr. Rue, who has his wife and mother with him, will soon 回復する."

ｧ 30

The painter was waiting for Mrs. Sacret at Minton Street, and 補助装置d the cabman, under the quizzical gaze of the neighbors, on doorsteps and at windows, to take her trunks into the house.

As soon as the parlor door was shut on them, the 未亡人 gave the valise to 示す Bellis and told her story. When she had finished she felt exhausted and was trembling. She could not 裁判官 from his 表現 if he was pleased with her 行為／行う.

"You 欠如（する） sleep and food," he 発言／述べるd kindly. "You must keep your 神経."

"When do we leave London?" she interrupted. "I am 井戸／弁護士席 enough—let us get away."

"You must return to the Old Priori!"

"No. I really cannot—you have no idea what it is like there—this horrible illness."

"It is not your fault or 地雷," replied the painter. "If this melancholy fellow chooses to 毒（薬） himself—as you say he has done. But you must be with your friend."

"You have the money—and the jewels," she 抗議するd. "What more do you want?"

"Pray 支配（する）／統制する yourself." The 警告 she had given Susan sounded bitter, she rose and sat 負かす／撃墜する again from 証拠不十分.

"The illness was needless, as it seems," he smiled, "a pity, perhaps, that you did not understand that the money was coming this morning. Since you were so successful with this expedient it would have been better had you carried it through, then we could have gone ahead together as we had planned."

"But—the other—was your—計画（する）—"

"What other?" He gave her a 冷淡な look that silenced her at once and 追加するd, "You must return to the Old Priory and stand by your friend. If Mr. Rue dies, I suppose there will be an 検死—these doctors are 詐欺師 than one might have supposed. And five of them! Who would have imagined such 苦悩 on the part of a truant wife! However, it may be for the best. She will be 解放する／自由な, and Lady Curle, I suppose—if the 事件／事情／状勢 is carried off decorously—and you will be her good friend to whom she will be very generous. Yes, both she and Sir John will be 極端に 強いるd to you—they will never forget those letters."

"But I do not want to go 支援する. I don't feel as if I could 耐える it. I don't want to see any of them again, do let us go away, as you 約束d."

"Of course," he agreed readily. "Tomorrow, perhaps, or the day after. I can easily get the tickets altered. You are 疲労，（軍の）雑役d now, and must 残り／休憩（する） here on the sofa, but you must return to the Old Priory—if only to make 調査s about Mr. Rue—it would look so 半端物 if you didn't."

"Would it 事柄 if it did look 半端物? We shall be gone—never to have anything to do with them again."

"We might be traced," he replied. "There is an 国外逃亡犯人の引渡し 条約 now with every country save Spain—フラン—Italy. Not 平易な to hide there—特に for your sort of woman."

"What sort of woman am I?" she exclaimed.

"Inexperienced—very delightful, someday soon I'll tell you." He smiled, took her 手渡す and caressed it delicately, while she, seated in the beehive 議長，司会を務める, looked up at him beseechingly. His 表現 was thoughtful. She 公式文書，認めるd the slight elegant hollows of his cheeks and jaws, the winglike sweep of his eyebrows that almost met above his （疑いを）晴らす-削減（する） nose, his gray 注目する，もくろむs, （疑いを）晴らす and vivid, that 転換d and 星／主役にするd aside, as if 意図 on some ever-moving 反対する invisible to her 見通し.

"Tell me who you are and what you 提案する to do with me."

"What nonsense—you know—I have told you."

"I don't believe anything you said." She thought of the romantic tale she had invented for him, the noble family, the haughty 反乱 against 条約, the heroic life of bold adventure. 非，不，無 of this fitted with his 活動／戦闘s since she had met him, but his 外見 was very apt to the part she had 割り当てるd him in her fantasy. She sighed because her own self-deception was beginning to be insufficient to 支える her; she gazed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room, very untidy, even dirty, with a litter of painter's rubbish, cigars, ワイン 瓶／封じ込めるs and oyster 爆撃するs on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and her portrait turned 直面する to the 塀で囲む.

"Do you have people here?" she asked with the sudden sensation that someone else had been in her home.

"Of course not. I sit here alone and dream of you. I don't even have a woman in to clean up, as you can see. How strange your smart luggage looks here in contrast to my own poor trunk! Do you remember when you sat on it as a model's 王位?"

"You showed me what I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be—in that picture, a beauty, a 罰金 lady—I'm not either."

"I'll show you what you are, one of these days."

"Do you love me?" she asked curiously.

"Didn't I ask you to marry me?"

"Yes, too easily. As if it didn't 事柄."

"You are so shrewd," he smiled, "that I wonder that you make so many mistakes."

"What mistakes have I made?"

"Not making sure about the money last night—not wanting to return to the Old Priory. Others, perhaps. And what do you know about love that you are so 批判的な? You are 冷淡な, you know, and a prude."

"But you? I have watched Susan—there is love there and passion. I saw this in Sir John, also—they loved, loved these two—imagine, respectable as they are, they went to all the 危険 and trouble of an illicit 事件／事情／状勢. How they contrived it I don't know, while you—with all your 適切な時期s have hardly—touched me."

"I have taught you something, at least; you would not have made that speech when we first met. If I didn't make love to you it was because it wasn't necessary."

"You mean that you were the master without that?"

"You know I don't. I ーするつもりである to marry you. We have 青年 a long time before us. You are not a cheap creature like Susan Rue for a 穴を開ける and corner 事件／事情／状勢."

She was intensely flattered and smiled, more to herself than to him, as if she congratulated herself on a 勝利. Not so many women would have come out of this intrigue as unblemished as she was; she felt invigorated and able to put through その上の tedium at the Old Priory. On the impulse of her 楽しみ she took ツバメ Rue's parting gift from her 手渡す valise and 申し込む／申し出d it to the painter. He 受託するd it 厳粛に, 宣言するing that he would keep it for her to spend in Paris. "You shall have the most charming dresses, furs and laces. I know the places to take you."

She had forgotten that he had recently 反対するd to visiting フラン or Italy, and asked him if he had been paid for the 塀で囲む 絵s at Lyndbridge House.

"Yes—a 哀れな sum! Mrs. Fox Oldham is dead in Lausanne—lucky for us."

"Why?"

"The mansion will be shut up, no one will go there, no one will hear of your visit, there won't be any questions asked about me. I was rather counting on this when I took you."

"I don't suppose it would 事柄 if it were known—you wiped off the sketches you made for me to see."

"You are 混乱させるd. I made no sketches for you. Come, will you 残り／休憩（する） here awhile?"

"No—I feel energetic now. I can go to bed 早期に tonight. It won't do to stay here too long. I am supposed to be seeing you about the tenancy of the house only."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席—whatever happens, come here again tomorrow, about ten o'clock. I don't see why we shouldn't leave then—or the next day. We can go 分かれて to the 駅／配置する."

The 未亡人 felt わずかに giddy as she rose, but soon 安定したd herself. しっかり掴むing his 手渡すs in hers, she 申し込む／申し出d her smooth 直面する for his kiss, deliberately and with some wonder.

He touched her forehead with his lips and she heard him laugh, as if he also was astonished.

With an 空気／公表する of 尊敬（する）・点, almost of deference, he 護衛するd her from the house and to High Street where he soon 設立する her a hackney cab.

ｧ 31

When Mrs. Sacret returned to the Old Priory, she saw at once that the holland blinds were 負かす／撃墜する. Curtis, weeping, met her in the hall. ツバメ Rue had died about an hour ago, Curtis had been in the room, helping, as the mistress was やめる useless, and the old lady seemed "turned to 石／投石する." The master had begged her "to be 肉親，親類d to poor Susan, who has been the best of wives to me," and his mother had muttered that she was "always 肉親，親類d to everyone."

"It is very sad," agreed Mrs. Sacret. "You must be やめる worn out. I 宣言する I am. I hurried 支援する—not even settling my 商売／仕事. Can I do anything?"

"I'm sure it is very good of you, ma'am," said the humbled Curtis. "The mistress isn't fit for anything—and the old lady has shut herself into her own room—she's at the 支援する—and there is not one of the doctors will give a death 証明書."

"That means an 検死, doesn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am. Dr. Virtue thought you might take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 for the mistress."

"I shall see to it at once."

After a 簡潔な／要約する interview with the 内科医, Mrs. Sacret sent a 公式文書，認める to the 検死官's office.

THE OLD PRIORY, CLAPHAM
September 25, 1865

Mrs. ツバメ Rue 願望（する）s the 検死 to be held at the Old Priory where she will have refreshments 用意が出来ている for the 陪審／陪審員団.

In her able 手渡すs the 世帯, so sadly 混乱に陥れる／中断させるd, 再開するd a 決まりきった仕事, skillfully altered for the dismal occasion. With both the ladies 打ち勝つ by emotion and unable to leave their beds the 未亡人 had everything to …に出席する to; the 検死 was 直す／買収する，八百長をするd for three days ahead and she would be an important 証言，証人／目撃する. It was therefore impossible for her to hope to leave London until this solemn 事件／事情／状勢 was over, she could only do so by a flight that would be, she was aware, 極端に imprudent. Nor was she able to keep her 任命 with the painter, but sent instead the gardener's boy with a formal letter to her tenant, regretting that she was 妨げるd from visiting the house to settle 事柄s appertaining to the end of his tenancy. With Susan's example ever before her mind she was very careful how she committed herself on paper.

Her first pang of 失望, her first horror of the Old Priory now it was a house of 嘆く／悼むing, soon passed with a sense of her own importance and 力／強力にする. She played the lady of the mansion very 井戸／弁護士席; the servants 尊敬（する）・点d if they did not like her, there was no disorder, no 混乱; a sedate decorum was 持続するd, together with 慰安 for everyone. With Dr. Virtue's help she arranged for the funeral, the flowers, the food and drink, the adaptation of the dining room into a 検死官's 法廷，裁判所 and the garden room into a 霊安室 chapel. She also ordered the 嘆く／悼むing for everyone, 含むing herself, and answered the 公式文書，認めるs of 弔慰, besides 認めるing the floral 花冠s and crosses that arrived from the friends and 知識s of the young man so suddenly and so shockingly dead.

On the second day, old Mrs. Rue made her 外見 at the breakfast （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する; she had not needed to change her attire, 存在 永久的に in crape. She 発射 the younger 未亡人 a malevolent ちらりと見ること. 怒り／怒る more than grief seemed to 所有する her, and only the presence of Dr. Virtue who was staying in the Old Priory seemed to 抑制する her from violent speech. Even as it was she commented 激しく on her son's will, in which no one was even について言及するd besides his wife, 発言／述べるing that he would "never have made it if he was in his 権利 mind."

"That won't 持つ／拘留する, madam," said Dr. Virtue, who did not like her. "Your son was perfectly （疑いを）晴らす in his senses, I can 証言する to that, and the will is reasonable enough, since he had no 近づく relations save yourself who are 井戸／弁護士席 供給するd for."

"At least," put in Mrs. Sacret from behind the silver tea urn, "no 部外者 has received anything—there is not as much as a 遺産／遺物 to one of the servants."

"Mr. Rue knew that his wife would see to that," said the doctor. "It is agreeable to 観察する how loyal and 充てるd everyone is—though the contents of the will is known."

When he had left the two ladies alone, old Mrs. Rue spoke bluntly.

"Why are you in my daughter-in-法律's place?"

"Dr. Virtue asked me to help, poor Susan is ill." Mrs. Sacret smiled, 追加するing: "You must 収容する／認める that I am やめる disinterested—I have not been left a penny, and as soon as the 検死 is over, I am going abroad."

"There is something I don't understand. I am sure of that—and that you have a 持つ／拘留する over that wretched woman."

Mrs. Sacret rose with dignity.

"Please don't 許す your spite to run away with you at this dreadful, dreadful time, with your son lying dead upstairs."

The old woman moved convulsively. A stale odor of violet cachet stirred from her bombazine and worsted dress, her mottled 直面する 新たな展開d and her 注目する，もくろむs, （犯罪の）一味d by the first horny circles of cataract, filmed with the difficult 涙／ほころびs of age. "My son, my son," she repeated, then made an 成果／努力 of surprising energy. "Yes, you are 権利, 残虐な and insolent as you are. I shall have to 許す this farce to continue and wait my chance."

The younger 未亡人 left the room, she did not 関心 herself at all about the dead man's mother whom she would probably never see again. She was enjoying the 緩和する and 当局 her position gave her while 心配するing in her thoughts the very different 未来 she would have with 示す Bellis, when this tedious and sordid episode was over, and buried and forgotten with ツバメ Rue. Curtis asked her to visit Susan and she 設立する the newly made 未亡人 in a 議長，司会を務める by the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, disfigured from weeping and bending 今後 to warm her 手渡すs at the 炎上s that scorched her swollen 直面する.

"I thought you would return, Olivia," she muttered, "though you 約束d not to do so. Still you have been useful—thank you."

"I have done everything for you," smiled Mrs. Sacret, seating herself opposite. "I only returned for that, and for the look of the thing—I am going abroad すぐに after the 検死."

"How could poor ツバメ have done it!" whimpered Susan. "Such 苦しむing! I cannot 耐える to think of it!"

"You must leave it all to the 陪審／陪審員団, dear. Pray don't upset yourself. And be 控えめの."

"What do you mean?"

"井戸／弁護士席, don't 令状 to—anyone in York 議会s—"

"I have not so much as thought of him!"

"I suppose that you will, in time. Nov, I think it would be better if we didn't talk of this—is there anything else you want to say?"

Susan began to weep, then sobbed: "That 嫌悪すべき old woman and her doctor—Dr. Balance—she brought him with her—she （機の）カム to see me about it, when I couldn't 持つ／拘留する my 長，率いる up—"

"What do you mean, Susan? This is やめる incoherent."

"I don't know myself. She seemed to 脅す, and said she wasn't 満足させるd and swore to get at the 底（に届く） of it—"

"Let her try," replied Mrs. Sacret composedly.

"Oh, do advise me! I don't understand any of it! What did ツバメ take?"

"The 地位，任命する-mortem will 明らかにする／漏らす that, I suppose. Of course, it is all very 反乱ing. But it will soon be over, and then you will be a 豊富な woman, and 解放する／自由な."

"I want to get away—I shall take Curtis and go away to the seaside, Brighton perhaps."

Mrs. Sacret felt very contemptuous of this 証拠不十分 and stupidity

How rich her own 未来 appeared compared to Susan's silly 計画（する）s!

She would he very rich, with a 豊富な 肩書を与えるd lover waiting for her, and Susan could think of nothing better than going to Brighton with a servant! And 一方／合間 she was やめる 廃虚ing that florid beauty that the three men who had been drawn to her had probably 設立する her 単独の attraction. Would not even the infatuated Sir John think Susan a bore without her fresh good looks?

Olivia Sacret ちらりと見ることd with satisfaction in the Venetian glass でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd mirror above the alabaster mantelpiece, and admired her own 正確な features that no 涙／ほころびs had ever smeared. She would have more sense than ever to 危険 losing 示す Bellis by these foolish, unbecoming emotional 陳列する，発揮するs.

"Do go to bed," she advised curtly, "and do be careful what you say. You can't come to any 害（を与える） if you are 慎重な—don't 関心 yourself about that old hag or her insolent doctor."

She 急いでd away, really thankful that Susan was too distracted to pester her as usual about the letters.

The bedroom, now impersonal, and with 非，不，無 of her 所有／入手s about—she had brought only a スーツケース with her—did not depress her; her mind was so 始める，決める on the 未来 that she had 中止するd to notice the Old Priory's ugly and dreary atmosphere. She did not even see, as she drew 負かす／撃墜する her blind that she had raised a few インチs during the day, the 乾燥した，日照りの and poor sticks in a sooty マリファナ on her window sill that had once been the gorgeous salvia that ツバメ Rue had given her. She slept 井戸／弁護士席 that night from physical exhaustion, not 乱すd by any dreams, nor by the presence of the dead under the same roof.

The morning brought a letter from the painter; he had received her 公式文書，認める, he wrote, and understood that he could not hope to see her until after the 検死. He would 推定する／予想する her at Minton Street at 10:00 A.M. the day に引き続いて that event.

Mrs. Sacret's spirits rose with 増加するing 見込み of happiness to come. She was 用意が出来ている to enjoy the little 演劇—as it appeared to her—of this 決まりきった仕事 調査, where she was such a 同情的な and admired 人物／姿／数字, the 勇敢に立ち向かう 有能な woman, who had, without any reward, stood by her friend in such a horrid 危機 and taken all 構成要素 重荷（を負わせる）s off her shoulders.

Everyone, save old Mrs. Rue and Dr. Balance, who kept themselves apart, tacitly agreed that the 判決 would be felo-de-se and Mrs. Sacret thought comfortably of the painter's needless 疑問s as to the 知恵 of traveling to Paris or Italy. He had 残念に 発言／述べるd that the 内科医s had 証明するd shrewder than might have been 推定する／予想するd. Though 取引，協定ing with a man continually ill and dosing himself with, no 疑問, dangerous 麻薬s, they had not 診断するd either 神経s or an 超過 of laudanum or chloroform, but all had agreed, at once, on a corrosive 毒（薬） as the 原因（となる） of this 致命的な malady.

If this 態度 had been vexatious, both to Mrs. Sacret and the painter, the 受託 of the 自殺 theory was 感謝する. He seemed to be appreciative of her 成果／努力s in this direction for he had written—"so much will depend on your 証拠 at the 検死."

Yes, he understood やめる 井戸／弁護士席 the part that she had undertaken and that she would play very 井戸／弁護士席 to the end.

ｧ 32

The day of the 検死 Mrs. Sacret entered the glasshouses from the garden door. It was agreeable to leave the autumn damp for the の近くに warm 空気／公表する. The 工場／植物s hung neglected in the wire baskets, the yellow, sapless leaves 粘着するing to the flaccid 茎・取り除くs of creepers unknown to the curious woman, some マリファナs on the 棚上げにするs showing crinkled blooms, others curling in contentive luxuriance. The 未亡人 wondered what would become of the 温室—what, indeed, of the Old Priory? Probably it would be sold—Sir John Curle would surely never 許容する this hideous place. Pausing to breathe the genial atmosphere Mrs. Sacret considered the changed 状況／情勢. Susan was 解放する／自由な. Without スキャンダル or trouble she could, after a decent interval, marry her 豊富な baronet and gracefully （問題を）取り上げる a new 存在 as lady of the village, a position so irreproachable that no one would 投機・賭ける to 解任する that she had ever been "talked of" with the important gentleman who was now her third husband.

What sort of a "持つ／拘留する" (the 表現 was ineffaceable from Mrs. Sacret's mind) would the letters be over Lady Curle? やめる a 会社／堅い 持つ／拘留する, the 未亡人 considered. It was 確かな that neither the baronet nor his wife would 願望（する） any 思い出の品 of their 早期に and indiscreet friendship during the lifetime of the first Lady Curle.

The 未亡人 approached the glass door that gave into the dull little library where ツバメ Rue had interviewed her on several occasions; it was curious to be looking out of the 温室, instead of looking in. She peered into 部分的な／不平等な 不明瞭, for the yellow holland blinds were drawn and the only light （機の）カム from the glass doors and that she herself 大部分は 封鎖するd. But she could see the 輪郭（を描く）s of the formal crosses and 花冠s, blank white flowers, stiffly arranged, piled 正確に about the smooth oak 棺 with the glittering 厚かましさ／高級将校連 扱うs, the duller white of the 黒人／ボイコット-辛勝する／優位d cards. She 反映するd on the swiftness of the services connected with death—how soon ツバメ Rue had been 性質の／したい気がして of! How soon they had all been 着せる／賦与するd in 嘆く／悼むing! The 流行の／上流の dressmaker had crape 衣料品s ready for sudden bereavements, she had discovered, and with a few stitches made them fit any 人物／姿／数字. Mrs. Sacret fingered the glossy silk of her own 大波ing skirts, sumptuously flounced over a bustle in the 最新の 方式, and she smiled on the reflection of how much more 高くつく／犠牲の大きい was this 嘆く／悼むing than the shabby 少しのd in which she had first come to the Old Priory. But she would be relieved when she could put off this somber 黒人／ボイコット, and again wear the rich and fanciful 衣料品s that the painter had told her to put aside and that now lay in the 底（に届く） of one of the trunks waiting at Minton Street.

She 退却／保養地d through the glasshouses that she had entered only through a whim, because she liked to feel 解放する／自由な to enter a place hitherto forbidden to her, and passed around the 支援する of the house, along the 井戸／弁護士席-raked garden path, 側面に位置するd by overcrowded shrubbery and gaunt straggling trees. Three people were slowly pacing ahead of her, old Mrs. Rue, her 内科医, Dr. Balance, and another of the 医療の men Susan had so frantically called in, Dr. Mallard. Both men were young for their positions, the first fair, with an 空気／公表する of uncommon vigor, the second dark and sedate; all were discoursing 真面目に together and gave the merest gesture of 承認 as Mrs. Sacret passed them. She thought it impertinent of them to be so 絶えず "about the house" since Dr. Balance had never been asked by Susan to …に出席する her husband, but had been brought by old Mrs. Rue—and Dr. Mallard was younger than the other 内科医s who had the 事例／患者 in 手渡す. Indeed, they had had little to do with the sick man—and had not been 願望（する）d to 補助装置 in the 地位，任命する-mortem—and she 疑問d if they would give 証拠 at the 検死.

As she passed these three people, the old woman raised her 発言する／表明する and said in 会社／堅い, thin トンs: "My son never took his own life."

ｧ 33

Mrs. Sacret was surprised to find the 検死 so 静かな, even humdrum; there was nothing exciting or lively about this judicial 調査 into what was a most 予期しない and violent death coming to a young and 害のない man in his own home.

Dr. Virtue opened with 決まりきった仕事 声明s as to the 致命的な illness of Mr. ツバメ Rue, then Mrs. Sacret, graceful in her expensive silk with the crape flounces, cambric collar and cuffs, and goffered bonnet, stood up before the long dining （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する behind which the 陪審／陪審員団 were seated and serenely gave her 証拠 as to the illness of ツバメ Rue, her nursing of him, and his 自白 that he had taken 毒（薬） and her repetition of this to Dr. Lemoine and Dr. Virtue. She did not now 明言する／公表する, however, that the sick man had 宣言するd, "I do this for Curle."

The 検死官, who was a neighbor of the Rues', and was 関心d to spare this unfortunate family all possible 苦しめる, was 同情的な with this gentle 証言，証人／目撃する. His courteous questions were directed toward 製図／抽選 out from the 証言，証人／目撃する all 証拠 that would 証明する 自殺.

The servants were called next, but had nothing to 追加する to Mrs. Sacret's 声明s. A 商売／仕事 同僚 証言するd to the dead man's 最近の low spirits and fits of gloom, and Dr. Virtue, 解任するd, 明言する／公表するd that he had had Mr. Rue under his care for some months for vague nervous trouble. Dr. Lemoine gave the findings of the 地位，任命する-mortem. にもかかわらず the previous 証拠, 死んだ had been healthy, there was no trace of 病気. 部分s of the 組織／臓器s having been sent to an 分析家 his 報告（する）／憶測 was read. 毒（薬） had been 設立する—antimony, taken in the form of tartar emetic. The 内科医s and servants 存在 解任するd to comment on this all agreed that ツバメ Rue had been "dosing himself" for years and might 井戸／弁護士席 have kept antimony in the form of tartar emetic in his Indian 薬／医学 basket, though 非，不，無 had been 設立する there. It was an almost colorless fluid, bluish white, and tasteless. 非，不，無 of the remains of the food and drink 消費するd by the dead man had been kept, nor any of the 事柄 he had 拒絶するd during his illness. No one had given any thought to this until Mrs. Sacret had several times cleaned the room linen and all the 大型船s used.

All the 内科医s 宣言するd that the sick man had 繰り返して and solemnly 否定するd having taken anything dangerous save a few 減少（する）s of laudanum.

The 死んだ's mother, Drs. Balance and Mallard wished to give 証拠, but the 検死官 辞退するd to call them; he did not 要求する, either, the 証拠 of the 未亡人, who was not even 現在の.

の近くにing the 調査, the 検死官 directed the 陪審／陪審員団 to bring in a 判決 of felo-de-se.

The men seated, rather awkwardly, on the ornate 議長，司会を務めるs behind the dining （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, did not 答える／応じる to this lead. Without leaving their places they returned an open 判決—"The 死んだ died from the 影響s of antimony 毒（薬）ing, but there is not 十分な 証拠 to show how it （機の）カム into his 団体／死体."

ｧ 34

Mrs. Sacret took this news to Susan who was lying on her bed in a darkened room, pale and 荒廃させるd in her stiff new 嘆く／悼むing, her 有望な hair 宙返り／暴落するd into knots on the 最高の，を越す of her 長，率いる.

"Now that is over," said Mrs. Sacret gently. "Your poor husband will be buried tomorrow and you need never think of him again!"

"Oh, I shall always think of him!" wept the 未亡人, hiding her 直面する in the pillow.

"Really? Have you always thought of Captain Dasent?"

Susan only sobbed the louder at this cruelty.

"It is the way he died—to know that he took his own life, in that horrible, horrible manner, and, because of me—the unkindness there was between us!"

"All this trouble is ended. You are weak to lament so, pray consider how lucky you are—the 判決 might have been much worse."

"Lucky? Worse? I don't understand!"

"Don't you? Never mind then. It is all over—the 陪審／陪審員団 have been refreshed and have left. So have the doctors, and the servants all had ワイン and cake. Really the whole 事件／事情／状勢 was a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of trouble and the 法案s will be 激しい—I had to 雇う waiters, but it was 価値（がある） it. All were in a good mood, except your mother-in-法律, and no one takes any notice of an old woman's raving about her pampered son—

"But she is 権利!" moaned Susan, 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするing on the disordered pillows. "She is 告発する／非難するing me of 運動ing him to it, I suppose, and I did—with this 勧めるing for a 離婚! I should never have done it! He was so 肉親，親類d to me, when he was in that dreadful, dreadful 苦痛, and left me everything, and never, never 非難するd me—"

"A pity that you did not discover his 価値（がある） sooner," said Mrs. Sacret tartly.

"His mother will not speak to me—I passed her downstairs and she drew away and turned aside her 長，率いる."

"Then you should 願望（する） her to return to her home—this is your home now, Susan, do しっかり掴む that."

"I loathe this place. I do not want to live here. I am going away with Curtis to Brighton."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席. But Dr. Virtue will not 許す you to travel yet—he is coming to see you again this evening. And if you have any spirit at all you will ask him to send that horrid old woman about her own 事件／事情／状勢s. Why, at this very moment, she is in your 製図／抽選 room gossiping with that impertinent Dr. Balance she brought with her and Dr. Mallard. I don't know why you called on him, Susan; he has a small practice in the 支援する streets here."

The prostrate woman took no 注意する of these words that Mrs. Sacret 配達するd while standing in 前線 of the mirror and curling tresses of her hazel hair around her fingers, except to murmur—"Her only son—ツバメ was her only son." The 証拠不十分 was abhorrent to Mrs. Sacret who 裁判官d Susan's emotion to be 極端に superficial. She will have forgotten him in a few weeks and be married again within the year.

Aloud she said:

"You 港／避難所't even thanked me for all the care I've taken—I 保証する you that things wouldn't have gone so 井戸／弁護士席 save for my 管理／経営." Susan sat up suddenly and 星／主役にするd from swollen 注目する，もくろむs.

"When are you going? Are you never to leave me?"

"Oh, pray don't upset yourself. I'm going at once—"

"I suppose," sighed Susan, shivering, "it is useless to ask you for the letters?"

"So you still think of those! How strange! I 宣言する I had forgotten them, they must be in one of my trunks and I must send them. Good-by."

Mrs. Sacret left the room 突然の, の近くにing the door with soft decorum. She was indeed 疲労，（軍の）雑役d, and now that the 検死 was over and there was nothing for her to do—a distant cousin of Susan's, a Mrs. Findlay, was coming from Yorkshire to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 設立—her old distaste of the home 生き返らせるd and she longed to be away and on the first 行う／開催する／段階 of her 旅行 abroad.

Not until she had reached the hall, with her valise in her 手渡す, ーするつもりであるing to slip away unobserved, did she 解任する that she could hardly leave the house before the funeral, unless she wished to 原因（となる） comment.

That, 明白に, was old Mrs. Rue's excuse for remaining in the home of the woman she had 侮辱d. Mrs. Sacret heard her talking in the 前線 製図／抽選 room, her 発言する／表明する raised and mingled with those of men. The 未亡人 paused to listen by the 割れ目 of the door. Yes, Dr. Balance, Dr. Mallard, and the 正確な accents of Hugh Ferguson, who kept the smart bookshop on the ありふれた and who had been the foreman of the 陪審／陪審員団.

Olivia Sacret shrugged her elegant shoulders. What a 哀れな fool Susan was to 許す this insolence in her own house! And how stupid of that malicious old woman to imagine that she could make trouble for anyone now that the 判決 of felo-de-se had been brought in! Why, couldn't she understand that the 事例／患者 was の近くにd! No 疑問 she was trying to blight her daughter-in-法律's 評判 by 宣言するing that she had driven her husband to 自殺. 井戸／弁護士席, even if she were believed, and she could make out やめる a good 事例／患者 for her theory, and Susan's grief, so like 悔恨, would support it, it was no 罪，犯罪 to ask for a 離婚, and all the 証拠 had shown that ツバメ Rue had been a very tiresome, difficult husband with his imaginary illnesses and his petty jealousies.

Mrs. Sacret went once again to her bedroom in the Old Priory, and 存在 疲労，（軍の）雑役d, 同様に as 静める in mind and healthy in 団体／死体, ate a good meal from the supper brought up to her on a tray and afterwards went to bed 早期に and slept 平和的に.

ｧ 35

When the funeral 行列 had started for Norwood 共同墓地 and the blinds had been pulled up in the house that ツバメ Rue had left for the last time, Olivia Sacret, without troubling anyone, 始める，決める off on foot, carrying her small valise, to Minton Street.

She had not 推定する／予想するd to find the painter there, yet it was with a pang of 失望 that she entered the mean, empty room.

He had left, の中で the dirty litter on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, a 公式文書，認める, 慎重に worded, 知らせるing her that he was "arranging the 事件／事情／状勢" and had "sent everything ahead" and would "wait on her soon after her return."

That will be any moment now, 反映するd Mrs. Sacret, ちらりと見ることing around with distaste. He must have 知らせるd himself of the date of the funeral. Oh, to be away!

The place was stripped of all the painter's paraphernalia and canvases; only the trunk on which he had stood the 議長，司会を務める to serve as a model's 王位 remained of all his 所有／入手s. The 未亡人's own 不十分な furnishings looked wretched and she regretted even the ill-chosen 慰安s of the Old Priory, and 解除するd her handsome 嘆く／悼むing fastidiously high as she went 負かす／撃墜する the dirty stairs to the 地階 in search of food. How stupid she had been not to bring away some of the 高級なs with which Susan's house 洪水d!

She paid for this carelessness by 存在 強いるd to eat the bread and cheese that was all she 設立する in the larder, but this was forgotten in the joy 原因（となる）d by the 二塁打 knock on the 前線 door that was the painter's signal. He seemed in high spirits, was fashionably dressed and took her gaily by the shoulders, kissed her brow and complimented her on her bloom.

"It was a 判決 of felo-de-se?" he asked smiling.

"Yes," said Mrs. Sacret. "All were 納得させるd of that and everything was made as 平易な as possible for the family."

She 述べるd 速く all that had passed in the Old Priory since she had last seen him, and he listened attentively, caressing the 手渡す that he lightly held.

He then told her of what he, on his 味方する, had done, of the dates, altered on tickets, of luggage 今後d to Dover, of rooms engaged in a Parisian hotel, of letters written to "a man I know" in Como, to 問い合わせ about a 確かな 郊外住宅 on the shores of the lake that was likely to be to let. While he spoke, Olivia Sacret watched him with even deeper 楽しみ than she listened to him. Suddenly he 中止するd his light description of the 楽しみs before them to ask:

"You are sure about the 判決?"

Thus 突然に challenged, Olivia Sacret replied smiling: "Oh, yes, there was never any 疑問 of it, in anyone's mind."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, the 未亡人 will marry Sir John Curle, she will be 極端に 豊富な—what luck for her—she must 株 some of it with you."

"I have given you a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs—the purse of money, the emeralds."

"A 記念品, on account. You must return to the Old Priory, say this afternoon, before that foolish woman goes to Brighton, and ask for more. Think of her 最新の fortune—and how she 得るd it."

Mrs. Sacret 抗議するd with vehemence. "I don't want to go 支援する there—I want to go away, as you 約束d—"

"Why so you shall, with no 延期する—we cannot leave before the boat train tomorrow. I mean you should 支払う／賃金 a visit this afternoon. I shall return tonight and take you out to supper."

"We have enough—a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs—and more—the jewels, besides Susan will not have the money in the house."

"I don't suppose that she will, not much at least, but she must have other 価値のあるs. Perhaps you can take them without 乱すing her? She would never dare to 問い合わせ after them. Before she 行方不明になるd them, you could 令状 from Paris to say you have them. Come, you don't ーするつもりである to be content with a mere thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs?"

"No, of course not. But I thought that we could wait—perhaps after she is married—"

"Then, too. But why not go abroad 井戸／弁護士席 供給するd for? When you have this immensely 豊富な friend. What jewels has she?"

"A large number. She was always pampered. Her father used to make her most 高くつく／犠牲の大きい 現在のs—so did her first husband—but she didn't wear those. You have his emeralds. Then ツバメ Rue, mean as he was, never begrudged her expensive trinkets."

"Make no more ado about this," he said 静かに. "It is a little thing just to return to Clapham and fetch a few parting gifts from your friend."

And a little thing it seemed to Mrs. Sacret as he spoke. After all what was the ugly house to her? To the man who had died there she was already as indifferent as if she had never met him. Tedious the place was, and the servants, now they no longer looked to her for leadership in a 危機, sullen; while old Mrs. Rue, who was probably still there, was 敵意を持った. But it would be 平易な to を取り引きする the newcomer, Mrs. Findlay, and easier still to を取り引きする Susan, and get something more from her with which to please 示す Bellis, something more to turn into money to spend ahead on golden 楽しみs.

"Aren't jewels dangerous?" she asked slyly. "Can't they be traced?"

He gave her a 有望な look of 賞賛.

"You're clever and smart. You've put this through amazingly 井戸／弁護士席—but you must learn to 信用 me. I don't do dangerous things—at least, not that 肉親，親類d of dangerous think I know where to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of jewels. But the point is that Mrs. Rue will never say she has parted with them—or 行方不明になるd them as the 事例／患者 may be."

"Where is my portrait?" she asked, delighted by his 賞賛する.

"Rolled and packed—it goes with us."

"I'm glad. Am I more like that portrait than I used to be?"

"Indeed you are. I saw you as you are, under all your Puritan disguises."

"Nonconformist," she 訂正するd him, and she thought obliquely, is he an educated man? I don't think so, for all his good 演説（する）／住所 and accent. She felt bewildered by this undesired reflection. She had really no 基準 by which to 裁判官 him, he was so superior to all the other men she had ever met that he seemed a 存在 apart. Yet, save for his 技術 in 絵, there was nothing he said or did that showed he knew anything but the 装置s of a world she could only guess at, tricks and expedients she hardly understood. Was he really ignorant? She did not know, since her own education and 産む／飼育するing had been so 狭くする. She 解任するd her own father, always her only example of gentility, but she could not 井戸／弁護士席 remember him. Then there was Sir John Curle—stupid and ordinary, he was やめる different from the painter. 混乱させるd, 疲労，（軍の）雑役d, yet excited and 刺激するd, she 圧力（をかける）d his 手渡す and 約束d to return from the Old Priory with something 価値（がある） his 受託. He bade her good-by and left her, begging her to take some repose. Olivia Sacret did not について言及する her wretched meal, she had no wish for food—he had 約束d "supper" that evening—where? She had no knowledge of what this might mean—was there anywhere he could take her, in 十分な 嘆く／悼むing? She had no other 着せる／賦与するs with her; slowly she went upstairs, but 見解（をとる）d the 狭くする bed on which she had so often slept with distaste. Even the thought that 示す Bellis had lived here could not give any attraction to the dingy home, the 哀れな furnishings, after the luxurious 慰安 of the Old Priory. She preferred to return to the sitting room and to 残り／休憩（する） in the beehive 議長，司会を務める. There with her gaze on the （土地などの）細長い一片 of drugget she tried to imagine what life ahead would be with the painter, to decide where and how they would live. But her imagination was feeble, all she could think of was his fascination, all she could feel was a 願望（する） to be with him always. Their background always fell away behind them—孤立するd and detached from the whole world, they moved, in her reverie, through nothingness. A knock on the 前線 door startled her; she rose, hoping that this was not some neighbor or tradesman who would 延期する her return to the Old Priory. On the doorstep stood old Mrs. Rue. Mrs. Sacret was 悩ますd, she saw her 計画（する）s 延期するd. She asked curtly how her 訪問者 had discovered her 演説（する）／住所.

The old woman replied that it was 井戸／弁護士席 known to everyone at the Old Priory.

"No 疑問—I suppose I have been 秘かに調査するd upon."

"How vulgar!" 発言／述べるd Mrs. Rue. "No one whose 事件／事情／状勢s are aboveboard ever uses that 表現—'秘かに調査するd upon.'"

"You had better come in," said Mrs. Sacret, feeling that she had the disagreeable 状況／情勢 井戸／弁護士席 in 手渡す, and she led the way into the 前線 parlor, leaving the 木造の 議長，司会を務める for her 訪問者 while she returned to the beehive seat.

"I know 正確に／まさに why you have come." She began the 戦う／戦い that she ーするつもりであるd to be 簡潔な／要約する with something of the sense of exhilaration with which she had before 取り組むd this grim 対抗者 who, at least, （機の）カム 直接／まっすぐに to the point with a 刺激するing candor.

"I wonder," 発言／述べるd Mrs. Rue. She gave a ちらりと見ること of malicious disgust at her surroundings. "So this is your home! I don't wonder that you struggled hard to remain at my son's house."

"I stayed there to help Susan—now, of my own 解放する／自由な will I am leaving for the Continent. I could go to Brighton with Susan if I wished. Do pray tell me what you have come here for? This long way—and the 天候 so 冷気／寒がらせる and damp!"

"I took a hackney, did you not hear it

"No—I was far away in a musing."

"Very likely."

Mrs. Rue had an immovable 空気／公表する, as if she was forever placed there, 激しい, yet shrunken together, her 永久の cumbrous 嘆く／悼むing 圧力（をかける）d about her; the woman and her draperies, even her 未亡人's bonnet and 隠す, seemed 削減（する） out of dingy, 黒人／ボイコット 石／投石する. She appeared ill, yet resolute, her 表現 was bold. For all her lead-colored complexion and the lilac トンs of exhaustion around her lips and 注目する，もくろむs, she had a fiery and bitter vitality.

"So Evil My Love" — A 劇の Film Poster

Olivia Sacret was suddenly 解決するd to put an end to this stupid 侵入占拠.

"I know, I repeat why you are here—you ーするつもりである to 告発する／非難する me of helping to goad your son to 自殺 by supporting Susan in asking him for a 離婚."

"No, I do not." Mrs. Rue spoke with a complacent 勝利 that 原因（となる）d the other woman to 答える／応じる with 冷淡な impatience.

"Then it is some nonsense about that supposition of yours that I had some '持つ／拘留する' over Susan. You hope I have some means of 負傷させるing her."

As she spoke Mrs. Sacret was wondering how far she should divulge the fact that she did 所有する a serious 武器 with which to 脅す Susan, but she quickly decided to say nothing of this at 現在の. Her master must be 協議するd as to how far they could use the letters in this ４半期/4分の1.

"It is not that either."

"Do, please, tell me what you have to say. I have an 任命. I may have to return to the Old Priory, I believe I left my umbrella there."

"No, you won't return—the door would be shut in your 直面する."

"Indeed! Susan would have something to say to that!"

"Would she? I don't think either she or you realize the position you are in—my son's death—"

"Oh, very 悲劇の! But you have yourself to 非難する, Mrs. Rue, you coddled him into such a nervous 明言する／公表する that he killed himself sooner than 直面する a 危機." r "He did not do anything so wicked and weak."

Mrs. Sacret shrugged indifferently.

"Oh, if you care to 同意しない with the 判決 at the 検死!"

"It was not a 判決 of 自殺, but what the lawyers call 'open'—"

Olivia Sacret was startled. Yes, of course, this was true, she had been misled by the 有罪の判決 of everyone in the house—the 検死官's summing up, her own 証拠—into thinking that the 陪審／陪審員団 had brought in felo-de-se. She had even repeated this 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語, strange to her, to herself on the stairs at the Old Priory and, in good 約束, had told the painter, yes, twice, that this had been indeed the 判決.

"It was the same thing," she said, 決起大会／結集させるing under the older woman's cruel ちらりと見ること.

"Indeed it was not—the 陪審／陪審員団 said my son died from antimony 毒（薬）ing, in 一致 with the 医療の 証拠, and that there was no 証拠 to show how he took it."

"It was 単に a different manner of 説 自殺—everyone assumed 自殺."

"大部分は on your 証拠. No one save you heard my son 自白する he had taken 毒（薬）."

"I told the 内科医s at once. I was believed. Everyone was 満足させるd."

"I was not—I am not—neither is Dr. Balance nor Dr. Mallard."

"The 検死官 did not think it 価値（がある） while to call you."

"He thought of nothing but putting a glaze over things—to save Susan's feelings."

Mrs. Sacret moistened her lips.

"You are trying to torment me with all this."

"Certainly I wish to make you feel uneasy—for as long as possible."

"You cannot do it," retorted the younger woman rising. "I am neither timid nor foolish."

"I realize that you are hard, cruel, and of a brazen 保証／確信. But even this will be shaken—"

"What can you do?"

"It is out of my 手渡すs. There were no reporters at the 検死, but Dr. Balance has drawn up an account of this 極端に lax 調査 that will he sent to the 圧力（をかける）. Dr. Mallard is 令状ing an article on the 事例／患者 for the Lancet, with it will be published the 地位，任命する-mortem findings. Then Mr. Ferguson, the very sensible foreman of the 陪審／陪審員団, is asking the members to 会合，会う him to discuss the 事例／患者—at my house—"

"A 事例／患者 already decided! This is absurd!"

"It was an open 判決," 主張するd Mrs. Rue calmly. "You seem やめる alarmed—what is it to you?"

"You are 事実上の／代理 out of malice," replied Mrs. Sacret. "This will 単に 苦しめる Susan—for no 目的—"

"For a most important 目的—to discover the truth."

"You know it."

"I think I do." Mrs. Rue rose ひどく.

"自殺—"

"No."

"What else?" Mrs. Sacret 軍隊d herself to 需要・要求する.

"You will learn in time. I tell you the 陪審／陪審員団 were 不満な. They thought your 証拠 要求するd cross-examination—they felt the 検死官 was 主要な them, almost even 説得するing them. Mr. Ferguson told me: 'I saw they 手配中の，お尋ね者 us to bring in 自殺—but I would not be so complacent.'"

"I have nothing to do with your 干渉," said Mrs. Sacret 堅固に, "I am going abroad."

"Are you? You might be brought 支援する—as an important 証言，証人／目撃する, if there is another 検死."

"There can't be—the 事例／患者 is settled."

"I'm not so sure. I am seeing my lawyer about it. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 him to be 現在の at this 調査, but the 検死官 would not 許す it. Mr. Ferguson thinks the 事柄 might be raised in the House of ありふれたs. I shall try to have that done. I shall stop at nothing to come at the truth of my son's death."

"Please go away. I don't think you are やめる sane."

Mrs. Rue 出発／死d, smiling sourly. It was as if she had left her 影をつくる／尾行する behind. The mean rooms seemed 冷気／寒がらせるd by a dark malevolence.

Mrs. Sacret decided not to return to the Old Priory, but also not to 許す a crazy old woman's spite to 苦しめる her on the 瀬戸際 of a brilliant 未来. Really no notice should be taken of what the bitter old creature had said; she was, of course, furious that Susan had 相続するd all the ツバメ money and 手配中の，お尋ね者 to make everything as difficult as possible for her. But what were these 予期しない 策略? Surely, old Mrs. Rue's course should have been to discredit her daughter-in-法律 as an unfaithful wife who had driven her husband to 自殺? But no, she was engaged on 準備するing some other menace. Mrs. Sacret did not care to consider what this might be, she 保証するd herself that it would not be 価値（がある） while, as the old woman's 脅しs were やめる 害のない. Doubtless she had even invented all the talk of the discontented 陪審／陪審員団 and the 調査するing doctors.

But, for all her self-支配（する）／統制する, Mrs. Sacret was restless. She went out and bought herself sponge cakes and a glass of sherry at a confectioner's shop in High Street, then returned to her house to throw herself on the bed on which the painter had so often slept. This time she did not notice how uncomfortable it was and how dingy the room.

She tried to sleep, ーするために be fresh for her 旅行 tomorrow, but she was too wide awake and could not even induce drowsiness. For the first time since she had left Minton Street for Susan's home she was unable to compose herself to her usual untroubled slumbers. When dusk の近くにd in, she rose, smoothed out her 黒人／ボイコット dress, and 始める，決める her long curls under the 未亡人's cap with the crape 略章s. After tomorrow she would not wear this horrid 嘆く／悼むing. It was absurd that she had been 軍隊d to return to it—ツバメ Rue was no relation of hers—only when everyone in the Old Priory had been fitted out with 黒人／ボイコット, it would have been 目だつ if she, the 未亡人's companion, had been the one exception.

When she heard the painter's 二塁打 knock her heart （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 uncommonly 急速な／放蕩な, she dreaded his displeasure when he should learn that she had not brought any jewels from Clapham, but she 安心させるd herself by the reflection that surely he would understand that—in 見解（をとる） of old Mrs. Rue's visit—her 活動／戦闘 had been wise. Surely he would feel, as she felt, that neither of them wished to be 伴う／関わるd more 深く，強烈に in the 事件／事情／状勢s of Susan, for the time at least, but 手配中の，お尋ね者 to get abroad away from it all. They could wait on events from the other 味方する of the Channel—for she would 令状, very 慎重に, to Susan and so 得る all her news.

With a smile of engaging welcome Mrs. Sacret opened to the painter, and, as soon as they were in the parlor behind the drawn blind, in the circle of light from the ありふれた oil lamp, she excused herself for 存在 empty 手渡すd and told him of her disagreeable 訪問者. He listened intently, 申し込む／申し出ing no comment until she had finished, then he half turned his 支援する on her as if 星／主役にするing in the empty fireplace and 発言／述べるd:

"You told me that the 判決 was felo-de-se."

"I know—I have just explained that. I had it in my 長，率いる, I don't know why—I really forgot."

"I said that, for a clever woman, you do very stupid things."

"But what does it 事柄? Where is the 害（を与える）?"

She heard him draw his breath, she saw his shoulders heave, then he turned to her calmly and with a casual 空気／公表する began 尋問 her on what she had just told him.

"Raised in the House of ありふれたs!" she exclaimed. "How absurd, is it not!"

"I don't know. I think it could be done. If there were 十分な grounds." He turned slowly, his 注目する，もくろむs ちらりと見ることing along the circle of the lamp 影をつくる／尾行する. "I wish you had been more 正確な—this alters everything—"

"Why?" she 需要・要求するd はっきりと. "A stupid old woman—and two raw doctors—of no importance compared to the other three men—an ignorant tradesman—and that is 許すing that what she said is true, which I don't believe—"

He did not speak more, and she drew nearer to him.

"You do not mean that you are angry because I did not return to the Old Priory?"

"I am not angry."

"You agree that it would have been unwise to have attracted attention to myself?"

"No," he smiled, took her 手渡す and caressed it kindly, and she who had dreaded his 怒り／怒る shivered with 救済. "I don't—I think you should return to the Old Priory—and stay with Susan Rue—she will be your best 保護（する）／緊急輸入制限."

"What are you 説!" exclaimed Mrs. Sacret. "We were leaving England tomorrow!"

He looked at her with an 正確な ちらりと見ること, in the warm 影をつくる／尾行するs his 注目する，もくろむs had a glint of smoky gold.

"Why, of course," he answered slowly. "You know I had forgotten that—非，不，無 of this has anything to do with us—even if there is a second 検死 we shall be far away."

"How could you have forgotten!" she gasped, not 完全に 安心させるd.

"I don't know," he 認める with an 空気／公表する of candor. "Because I'm tired, I suppose, excited—just as you forgot the real 判決—these have been 乱すing days."

"Indeed," she agreed, "there has been much for you to do—everything is arranged?"

"Everything. I shall come with a hackney for you tomorrow—about nine o'clock. One day's traveling and our real life will begin. Now you must get some sleep."

"You said you would take me out to supper tonight, I have hardly had anything to eat all day."

"I forgot your 嘆く／悼むing—it would be ludicrous in, say, the Argyll."

"Yes, I thought of that—I wish I had kept one trunk with me—I have only a few 洗面所 articles in a little valise."

"There is not much to 悔いる!" he 保証するd her gaily. "This time tomorrow we shall be in Paris—unless you care to spend a short time in Calais."

Mrs. Sacret sighed, contented. She was tired, indeed, and now that she no longer dreaded his 怒り／怒る, she felt relaxed, drowsy and was willing that he should leave her for a few more hours only. But she was disappointed that he left so quickly, smiling, with a light step and hardly any 別れの（言葉，会）s—a whispered "good-by"—a touch of his lips on her cheek and he was gone. Her mood changed, she felt lonely, old Mrs. Rue's 影をつくる／尾行する seemed to blot the 薄暗い lamplight. Oh, to be gone, to be away! She 手配中の，お尋ね者 空気／公表する, freedom, the room was so small, so wretched, smelled so stale and dusty. After a restless half hour she threw on her mantle, tied on her bonnet and 急いでd out of the house. A 罰金 rain was straightly 落ちるing. There was no breath of 勝利，勝つd, a glare of light from above the 霜d glass of the windows of the public house at the corner was 反映するd in the wet pavement, beyond was 不明瞭 save for the dull yellow circles on the pavement from the street lamps. Above was a murky sulphurous hued sky, night 紅潮／摘発するd with the 薄暗い glow of the city.

Mrs. Sacret had never been in the city after dark save on a direct errand, a modest hurrying from the chapel or a neighbor's house, and she felt at once at liberty and lost. It was 半端物 for the genteel lady she had become in Susan's 避難所d house to be alone in these mean 味方する streets after nightfall, yet it ふさわしい both her mood and something in her nature to be unseen and 解放する／自由なd from the 抑制 of having to watch her speech and her looks—as she had to watch them even with 示す Bellis. How relieved she would be when she was able to discard all 抑制 with him, when they had left behind all the tiresome, even ぎこちない circumstances that had 抑制（する）d their movements and their emotions! How soon they would forget England when 安全に in フラン or Italy!

As Olivia Sacret was thus walking aimlessly and musing in a manner vague yet 熱烈な on the 未来 that she saw as nothing but a long companionship between herself and 示す Bellis, she was 脅すd by a most 予期しない experience. It was the first time in her life when she, bold by nature and unsuperstitious, had felt a pang of unreasoning 恐れる.

She had passed the public house from which （機の）カム the sounds of coarse laughter and tuneless singing, crossed High Street and was walking slowly along Heron Walk, a 狭くする turning opposite Minton Street, when she became aware of a woman some way ahead, 訴訟／進行 at about her own pace. The 輪郭（を描く） of this 人物／姿／数字 in the 影をつくる／尾行するs seemed confusingly familiar, then, as it passed into the circle of light thrown by the lamppost, Mrs. Sacret 設立する that she was gazing at herself and the keen thrust of 恐れる touched her 神経s. She could not move, and, as she stood 星／主役にするing, her 二塁打 passed 今後 into the 影をつくる／尾行するs, but not before the terror-filled eves of Olivia Sacret had noticed every 詳細（に述べる） of 衣装, rose-trimmed hat, green mantle—all 正確に／まさに like those she had worn on her visit to Lyndbridge House—a reproduction of the 衣装 and 任命s now packed by herself in one of her trunks that must by now be lying in the 駅／配置する at Dover. When at school she had heard idle stories of ghostly （テニスなどの）ダブルス and taken no 注意する of them, her mind had been 占領するd by practical 事柄s and she had always considered fairy tales a waste of time.

Hardly knowing what she did she 急いでd 今後. The other 人物／姿／数字, as if 乱すd by the 落ちるing rain, also quickened its steps—the smart, fantastic dress that Mrs. Sacret had designed 完全に to her own whim was indeed unsuitable to this wet night, this empty 味方する street.

As Mrs. Sacret followed she lost sight of what she felt must be a horrid phantom, paused, and の近くにd her 注目する，もくろむs in an 成果／努力 to 命令（する） herself. When she opened them she hurried on again as 急速な／放蕩な as the 十分な 激しい skirt she gathered up in an ungainly fashion would 許す her to move. But she did not see the woman she was so strangely 追求するing, either the creature—if creature it was—had turned into a doorway, slipped 負かす／撃墜する a 味方する street—for Mrs. Sacret had reached 十字路／岐路—or it was a hallucination. "But I am not nervous," she told herself, standing 冷淡な and still. "I have not had as much as an evil dream since I was a child—no, absurd, I saw that 人物／姿／数字, but the dress, 正確に like one I invented for myself—"

Her heart （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 ひどく, she was glad of the raindrops on her 直面する. Pulling off her gloves, she touched her wet cheeks.

What to do? She was やめる at a loss, and began to walk aimlessly, suddenly aware of the 冷淡な, of the damp pavement beneath her thin shoes, of the drip of the 洪水s from the gutters, of the dark houses she passed in what 増加するd to a flight.

She was brought to a 行き詰まり by the sight of a policeman with his lantern that he turned, in a 決まりきった仕事 fashion, 負かす／撃墜する each small, mean area.

"Have you seen anyone go past?" she asked nervously and to her own ears her 発言する／表明する whistled feebly. "I am looking for a friend," she 追加するd, on the man's ちらりと見ること of surprise.

"There's no friend of yours gone by here, madam," he replied indulgently. "Not many about on a wet evening."

"No?" she sighed. "I thought I saw—was there no one?"

"Only Kitty Feathers taking home a 瓶／封じ込める of stout."

"Who is Kitty Feathers?"

"No one you could have mistaken for your friend," the policeman answered her with a civil ちらりと見ること at her 激しい 嘆く／悼むing, as if he put her eccentric 行為／行う 負かす／撃墜する to the disorder of grief. "She's not anyone at all, madam, you'd know about—a little Irish girl who sits to painters."

"No, it was not she I—saw—thought I saw." Mrs. Sacret turned away, the policeman cast the 薄暗い ray of his lantern on her pale, affrighted 直面する that he peered at through a 隠す of rain and asked her if he should 行為／行う her to her door.

Mrs. Sacret 拒絶する／低下するd, 明言する／公表するing that she knew her way やめる 井戸／弁護士席. She was exhausted now and walked slowly, out of breath, peering into every doorway she passed.

When she reached home she took the lamp from the parlor up to her bedroom, and lay awake for a long time, without taking her 着せる／賦与するs off, flung on the 哀れな bed, considering what she had seen. Her strong ありふれた sense at once 強いるd her to 解任する the 人物／姿／数字 as the 影響 of an excited imagination and 辞退するd to 許す that it could be anything save reality she had seen.

In this 衝突 she 解任するd the silly stories she had heard so long ago of people 会合 their （テニスなどの）ダブルス. This apparition was supposed to foretell 早期に and sudden death, but she was sure that in these 事例／患者s the 人物／姿／数字 had always 前進するd toward its 犠牲者—she had, surely, never heard of a woman 追求するing herself.

She tried to laugh, the sound of her 軍隊d mirth was not pleasant in her own ears in the 静かな of the room, the house, the street. She rose resolutely, undressed, 消滅させるd the fading lamp and shuddered between the 冷淡な sheets.

Somewhat 慰安d that no likeness of herself was traced on the 不明瞭 of the room, she composed herself by 直す／買収する，八百長をするing her mind on the day so soon to 夜明け, and at last fell asleep.

ｧ 36

Mrs. Sacret woke 早期に and made her few 準備s for leaving her country, forever, as she half supposed, half hoped. She had only her small valise to pack, her frugal breakfast to eat—still the 残余s of the painter's food in the dirty kitchen were all that she had—her 激しい 嘆く／悼むing to adjust. And then to wait. To wait—that was her 部分, at first confidently, then hopefully, then in 逮捕, then with a nervous restlessness touching despair. When the hour 示す Bellis had 指名するd as that of the 出発 of the boat train, ten o'clock, 示すd on the small traveling clock that had been one of her ゆすり，強要s from Susan, had passed, she could no longer 耐える her agony of suspense. She did not know where to find the painter, she had not 関心d herself to ask where he stayed when he left Minton Street.

She 急いでd out into the colorless day without 目的, looking, in the 淡褐色 street, like a blot of 署名／調印する on a spread of 国／地域d paper, so dense and 激しい was the 嘆く／悼むing. Then she 回復するd some 支配（する）／統制する of herself, 雇うd the first hackney she saw and directed the man to the Pimlico lodgings where the painter had lived when he had first written to her. To reach this she had to pass the terrace and the square she had visited with him, she 解任するd the stories he had told her of the commonplace houses—a 秘かに調査する 発射 by his servant, long ago, a miser 殺人d for his hoard, part of the intricate city life of which she knew nothing. She was conscious, now, how she had always lived on the surface. Even when she had been giving her 証拠 at the 検死 it had been as if she had been 事実上の／代理 in a play, 利益／興味d and amused by her fellow comedians but no more 関心d with any of them than she was by those tales of 古代の 罪，犯罪s—no, one was 最近の, but nothing to her—with which 示す Bellis had entertained her; there was a second square that the hackney 板材d past. Yes, she 解任するd that also, the house with the To LET board, where the old woman had been 殺人d, her 団体／死体 put in a boxa trunk or was it a 事例／患者? She had to 直す／買収する，八百長をする her mind on the story to keep it off her 現在の wretched 状況／情勢, which was painted by the unwilling recollection of the 人物／姿／数字, the 二塁打 of herself, she had seen walking ahead of her in the 雨の dark last night.

The neglected house in a Pimlico 味方する street with the 中心存在d portico and the peeling stucco was in the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of a pallid and shawled woman who 宣言するd that she had never let rooms to a Mr. 示す Bellis. Painters, yes, several of them, she could not 述べる them, nor "tell one from another," the only points on which she was （疑いを）晴らす was that she did not know the 指名する and that there was no one 似ているing a dark-haired young man nor a painter, in the house at 現在の, and she slammed the door in Olivia Sacret's 直面する, as idle dirty children （機の）カム curiously up the dark 地階 stairs to 星／主役にする at the 執拗な stranger arguing on the broken doorstep.

Mrs. Sacret returned to the hackney, and, at first 征服する／打ち勝つing distaste, then, in 増加するing anguish unaware of it, she went to all the public houses in the 近隣 in vain; no one who might have been 示す Bellis had ever 宿泊するd there, nor was the 指名する known to anyone. She returned to Minton Street and knocked up her neighbors. Eager for the hint of スキャンダル, the slatternly women 保証するd her that they knew nothing whatever of her tenant's どの辺に.

"I am going abroad, and he has not paid his rent," explained Mrs. Sacret, thinking even at that moment that the last 声明 was true enough. Several 発言する／表明するs at once reminded her that she had been 警告するd that he was a scoundrel.

"There is some mistake, perhaps he has met with an 事故," she 滞るd, aware she was the 中心 of a 集会 （人が）群がる. "It really is no 事柄."

She was 知らせるd that the painter had been watched taking away on a 駅／配置する 飛行機で行く not only his own paraphernalia but the smart new luggage that she, Mrs. Sacret, had been 観察するd bringing to her house. "He 約束d to put my trunks on the train for me," said Mrs. Sacret, wishing she had not 誘発するd this spiteful curiosity. "He has behaved very kindly to me, you know I am a 未亡人 and alone. He painted my portrait—"

"You're not the only one he's been 肉親，親類d to," smiled a stout woman wearing a man's moleskin cap, "he used to have a girl in the place."

"I daresay," interrupted Mrs. Sacret 刻々と. "He would have sitters, perhaps models. Can you tell me the 指名するs and 演説（する）／住所s of any of them?"

But, 気が進まない as they were to let the 事柄 alone, no one could tell her more than that, always in the dusk, a young woman had been seen—and that only recently—going and coming from Mrs. Sacret's house; no one, even の中で these keen-注目する，もくろむd gossips, had been able to see enough of this stranger, always 隠すd or muffled—and in the 部分的な／不平等な dark—to be able to identify her, perhaps it had not always been the same young woman.

"It is nothing," 抗議するd Mrs. Sacret, more to herself than to them—"a seamstress, a laundress. He will send my rent. I must catch a train, I must go to the 駅／配置する."

She told the driver of the hackney to take her to Charing Cross. Her mind was becoming 圧倒するd by its own 苦悩 and she hardly noticed where she was going nor remembered that she had left her valise in Minton Street. "There has been a mistake," she repeated to herself. "He is waiting for me at the 駅／配置する."

When she arrived there, she entered the dark, dirty, glass-roofed shed, with the long 壇・綱領・公約s and rails stretching from under it into the dull blur of the misty day, and felt her senses 混乱させるd at these 視野s 消えるing with a swiftness like 動議 out of the 影をつくる／尾行するs of the 駅／配置する into the faint light beyond. These grim vistas afflicted her with fright, she ran about in the echoing, （人が）群がるd 入り口 hall, peering into the 直面するs of the men sauntering or 急いでing about with their rugs and carpetbags, each 意図 on his own 商売／仕事 and so giving the 影響 of a （人が）群がる at cross-目的s and so 増加するing her 混乱.

He was not there.

A porter approached her and asked her if she had any luggage.

"Not here—at Dover," she replied, "but I 恐れる I have 行方不明になるd the boat train."

He smiled with the spiteful 楽しみ of his small specialist's knowledge. "Past midday," he jerked his thumb at the clock above the refreshment room. "The boat train goes at eight o'clock."

"No—ten o'clock—I am sure of that."

"You're wrong," grinned the porter. "You'll see it chalked up—" he pointed now to a blackboard that 発表するd that the train for Dover—Calais left 壇・綱領・公約 No. 3, every day, except Saturday, at eight o'clock, "as is 井戸／弁護士席 known," 追加するd the man contemputously.

Mrs. Sacret moved away. The 駅／配置する was hideous, dazzling to the sight, confounding to the 審理，公聴会, 不快な／攻撃 to the 肺s. She felt dismal and distracted. Only one thought was （疑いを）晴らす in her mind. He 故意に deceived me. He never meant to take me—he lied last night, about the time of the train. How much else has he lied about?

She was hungry and moved wearily toward the refreshment room, then remembered the waiting cab and made her way slowly to the street.

The decayed 乗り物 and old tired horse, the driver wrapped in his rugs, waited 根気よく. Mrs. Sacret hung 支援する from the dark 内部の, smelling of lamp oil and damp leather; it seemed intolerable to turn 支援する; her 失望 was so 激しい that she almost sobbed as she gave her wretched 演説（する）／住所 to the old man on the box 集会 up the worn reins. Practical 苦悩s quenched her 全世界の／万国共通の 悲惨 as she opened her reticule to 支払う／賃金 for her fruitless ride.

She had very little money. She had, indeed, nothing but the 着せる／賦与するs she wore and her few pieces of broken furniture, the mean little house. Everything else that she 所有するd had been taken by the man she knew as 示す Bellis, to whose どの辺に she had no 手がかり（を与える）.

ｧ 37

Alone in her despised room, Olivia Sacret 直面するd her 状況／情勢. She had a few 続けざまに猛撃するs in her reticule, a few 続けざまに猛撃するs in the bank—this was all that was left of what she had earned and だまし取るd during her stay at the Old Priory.

Money, the diamond bracelet, the 始める，決める of emeralds, even her 現在の from ツバメ Rue she had given to the painter; he had also her 罰金 trunks, 十分な of 罰金 着せる／賦与するs, and the letters that 構成するd her only 持つ／拘留する on Susan. She 軍隊d herself, with the 冷淡な courage that had supported her through the whole adventure, to consider her position; she had been duped from the first, and, in a way, had always been aware of this. She had not really believed anything he had told her, he had never given her the slightest proof of his good 約束. She had 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be deceived, for she had supposed that he would continue to deceive her for a long while, because of her 力／強力にする to get money from Susan. She did not 推定する／予想する that he would so suddenly abandon her, and, concentrating 猛烈に on the problem, she was 納得させるd that this abandonment had not been his 初めの 意向. It would have paid him better to have carried out what was, surely, his first 計画（する）.

Only yesterday—and suddenly—had he decided on flight. The word was shocking. Why had he fled? Leaving no hint as to his どの辺に, without sending her a line of explanation? Painfully 解任するing every 出来事/事件 of the past day she remembered that there had been a subtle change in the painter's manner after she had told him of old Mrs. Rue's visit. He had seemed at first startled and angry, though he had had his 支援する to her and she could not see his 直面する; then when he had turned he had spoken of her return to the Old Priory and said words to the 影響 that she would be safer with Susan Rue.

Yes, that was the moment when he had decided on leaving London—perhaps the country—at once—without 妨害するing himself with an ignorant woman who would be clamoring for Paris or Italy. に引き続いて this train of bitter thought, she 解任するd what he had once 発言／述べるd about the 国外逃亡犯人の引渡し 条約, then she stopped herself to ask—what was he afraid of? She saw, in her mind, the sketches on the 塀で囲む of the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 議会 at Lyndbridge House, the 瓶／封じ込める he had chosen, the word on the label. She saw some other things also and again stopped her thoughts. She dare not put plainly, even to herself, the 事例／患者 as she saw it. Far too 暗黙に had she, in her infatuation, 信用d him. He had seemed so sure of himself, his 計画（する） for 解放する／自由なing Susan had seemed so skillful, so impossible to （悪事，秘密などを）発見する. What had gone wrong? The 医療の men had been 突然に sharp, they had discerned すぐに the 原因（となる） of the illness, though she, obeying his 指示／教授／教育s, had 除去するd everything the 患者 had 拒絶するd, keeping all 大型船s rinsed out. The 検視 had been 予期しない, also. So had the finding of the 陪審／陪審員団. For herself she would have supposed the 状況／情勢 安全な enough, but the painter's flight touched her with a 冷気／寒がらせる, unreasoning 恐れる, akin to that sort of horror she had felt last night when she had seen the 人物／姿／数字 that 似ているd herself walking ahead of her through the dark and the rain, a 恐れる that （太陽，月の）食／失墜d her 熱烈な 失望 at her abandonment.

She was shrewd enough to be able to understand 明確に her own forlorn 明言する／公表する. Even if she sold the house at once and for the 最大の price, she would have only a few hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs in the world. Her chances of finding a 地位，任命する were more remote even than before and her dislike of menial work even greater than it had been. She realized she must understand that she had been plundered of everything she 所有するd. But there remained Susan, who need never know that Mrs. Sacret had lost her letters, Susan who had now no husband to 勧める her companion's 解雇／（訴訟の）却下. Susan, weak, dazed, who would be an 平易な prey, Susan who would be Lady Curie and very 感謝する to the friend who had stood by her so faithfully.

Besides there was the painter's advice, she would be safer with Susan, "保護（する）／緊急輸入制限," that was the word he had used. She 解決するd to return to the Old Priory at once, without even pausing for food and 残り／休憩（する）. The ugly house, so recently the scene of violent death, now appeared like a 避難 to her; she repacked her valise once more. In the 中央 of this mechanically 成し遂げるd 仕事, the 負わせる of her day overcame her with an 超過 of desolation; she dropped the 事例／患者 and its contents, fell on her 膝s, took her 直面する in her 手渡すs and for the first time since she was a child, wept the spontaneous 涙／ほころびs of 深遠な 悲しみ.

ｧ 38

The two ladies lived very 静かに at Brighton in a small house on the Parade that Susan had 雇うd, with Curtis as personal maid, and three other servants from Clapham to run the modest 設立. Susan had shown no 広大な／多数の／重要な surprise at Mrs. Sacret's return to the Old Priory; seemed to listen with much attention to her smooth excuses "that she really could not go abroad and leave her dear friend alone at such a sad time and therefore she had 延期するd her 計画（する）s."

The young 未亡人 was melancholy and took little 利益／興味 in anything. "I knew you would return," was all the comment she made on the swift reappearance of her companion. She even 受託するd without vexation Mrs. Sacret's story of having lost the luggage she had sent in 前進する to Dover and 許すd her to 補充する her 着せる／賦与するs at her expense. She also put money into Mrs. Sacret's ready 手渡す, without any talk of a settled 行う or settled 義務s. Nor did she について言及する the letters. She seemed as 辞職するd to her position as Mrs. Sacret was to hers, and uttered no word as to the 未来, nor any について言及する of Sir John Curle. Olivia Sacret was thankful for this なぎ; the 除去 to Brighton did 削減（する） off the old life はっきりと, and assuage some of the 熱烈な grief she was 強いるd to keep secret. Although stunned by an appalling sense of loss she had not given up hope, and, as day after day went by and the death of ツバメ Rue fell さらに先に into the past and there was no 調印する of anyone taking any more 利益／興味 in it, she nourished the 期待 that the painter, 保証するd that he was 安全な, would 捜し出す her out. Their 関係 had always had a dreamlike 質 to this woman who had dreamed so seldom, and been so 十分な of a rich and 変化させるd experience to this woman whose experience had been so pinched and commonplace, that she was, if not 満足させるd, at least 静かなd by the constant dwelling on 示す Bellis and his 約束s that was her main mental 占領／職業. She was not able to resist a visit to Lyndbridge House, though this meant a tedious 旅行 to London, and a night in the empty house in Minton Street.

This secret 探検隊／遠征隊 was unavailing. The mansion was の近くにd, the servants 解任するd, no one was permitted to see the enclosed splendors of galleries and gardens; the master, newly （死が）奪い去るd of his bride, was not, at least for years, returning to England.

So the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する apartment with the fairy landscapes painted on the 塀で囲むs, the long enfilade, the 塀で囲むd rosetree 陰謀（を企てる）s, became a hidden treasure to Mrs. Sacret, part of the fascination of her lost friend, something that she could visit only in her fancy—Oh, was that the word?

She 星／主役にするd through her 隠す and through the gates that the 宿泊する keeper would not open, though she had plausibly 代表するd herself as a foreigner who wished to see the famous pictures at Lyndbridge House. The avenue of 明らかにする chestnut trees had a terrifying likeness to the long 視野 of 鉄道 lines 消えるing 速く into nothingness from under the glass-roofed sheds of the 抱擁する 駅／配置する. She asked t the inn, the Lyndbridge 武器, for news of the painter, 影響する／感情ing to be an 知識 of his who chanced to be visiting this village. The excuse was poor, and she learned nothing of the man she sought day and night in her memories, save that at Lyndbridge he had been known as コマドリ Campion.

ｧ 39

The winter was sharp but 罰金 at Brighton, and にもかかわらず their 悲しみs the two ladies bloomed, Susan into a florid beauty, coquettishly at variance with her 深い 嘆く／悼むing, Mrs. Sacret into a （疑いを）晴らす precision of line and color 井戸／弁護士席 始める，決める off by the 静かな yet 流行の／上流の dresses she 影響する／感情d, having discarded the crapes that had seemed fitting at the Old Priory. Their days were monotonous, since neither had any 利益／興味s beyond some talking, embroidery or the reading of a novel from the 広まる library. But this 決まりきった仕事 of good food, 平易な 議長，司会を務めるs, easier beds, fresh 空気／公表する, a carriage and pair, a maid to …に出席する to their persons, was in itself soothing, and even Mrs. Sacret's trouble was held in check.

One sparkle of hope she had when she threshed over (yet once again) the story of the painter, and that was his 所有／入手 of Susan's letters. Mrs. Sacret did not believe that he would 許す these to 嘘（をつく） forever useless in her trunk and when he began to remind Susan of their 存在 and the price he put on them, then Mrs. Sacret would have to come into 接触する with him again, then she would be, once more, of use to him in 取引，協定ing with their ありふれた 犠牲者.

一方／合間 she 解決するd to keep her 手渡す in by herself and began to 申し込む／申し出 hints as to the 未来 to the 辞職するd and feeble Susan, who was 減ずるd by the shock of her husband's death to a 明言する／公表する, in Mrs. Sacret's contemptuous opinion, approaching imbecility.

"Here is the spring again, Susan, though I 宣言する it will be a long time coming in this 荒涼とした place, and you really must begin to take an 利益／興味 in life."

"What 利益／興味 could I have?"

"Oh, come now, do be sensible! There is no need to remain here, on show, in 十分な 嘆く／悼むing—you could go abroad."

"I have not the strength—the 願望（する）—for any 計画（する）s—besides wherever I went you would, no 疑問, …を伴って me."

"Of course, you せねばならない be glad of that. I am the only person who has stayed by you."

"I could have 設立する other friends," replied Susan in a hopeless トン, "but what was the use? I knew that I should never get rid of you."

"Indeed you would," 発言／述べるd Mrs. Sacret tartly, "soon be rid of me—as you call it—if my 計画（する）s had not gone a little awry. I am waiting for a message from someone—then I shall go abroad. Do you suppose that I am enjoying myself here, in this dull watering place?" As she spoke she easily 説得するd herself of the truth of what she said and lively images leaped before her mind—the painter 準備するing for her in his lakeside 郊外住宅, a 召喚するs for her even now in the 地位，任命する.

"If you want money," said Susan 突然に, "I can give it to you—and you could go to—wherever you wish. I wrote to Mr. Atherton, my lawyer, and told him I should need a large sum, and he answered there should be no difficulty now. He is selling the Old Priory for me."

If Mrs. Sacret had had any 手がかり（を与える） as to where she might find the painter she would have 受託するd this 申し込む／申し出 and gone abroad to find him. But she dared not 危険 leaving England. Letters were 今後d from Minton Street and Clapham to Brighton and surely he would soon send for her to one of those 演説（する）／住所s.

"I'll take a few 続けざまに猛撃するs for my expenses," she said gently. "You 港／避難所't given me much since I （機の）カム here—just 半端物 sums. I don't know my 計画（する）s yet, but there is no need for you to defer yours—have you not written to Sir John Curle?"

Susan shuddered at that 指名する.

"How can you speak so, Olivia! Never, never について言及する him again."

"Has he not written to you?"

"Once. I destroyed the letter unopened."

Mrs. Sacret shrugged.

"井戸／弁護士席, I suppose this modesty is a 事柄 of form, and you can't do much but live retired until your year of 嘆く／悼むing is up—but surely you had better keep in touch with him, he might become tired of waiting."

"Don't speak of it," implored Susan with a look of terror.

"How stupid you are!" sneered Mrs. Sacret, forgetting her 甘い low トンs. "Here you are 解放する／自由な of a husband you detested—and very rich and able to marry a man you are pining for, who is very rich also, and 肩書を与えるd—"

"You are vulgar and dull," interrupted Susan, and the other woman 星／主役にするd at her in strong amazement. "My husband—died—because I was not 肉親，親類d to him. His mother was 権利. I behaved like a wicked woman. I shall never 回復する from the 悔恨."

"You don't mean that." Mrs. Sacret stooped to put a billet of 支持を得ようと努めるd on the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, ーするために hide her astonishment.

"I do—I think you know I do. I have been most weak, wrong and foolish, but I did not detest—my husband—you are the only person I have ever hated."

She rose and withdrew from the circle of the lamp and firelight, 追加するing quickly: "You have been an evil genius to me ever since you （機の）カム to the Old Priory—as the evil genius in the old play we used to learn at school."

"How 不正な! You were very unhappy when I 設立する you."

"Nothing to what I was afterwards. You 脅すd me with 不名誉 because of those letters—I couldn't remember any 害（を与える） in them—and then you 軍隊d me to 自白する I had been a wicked woman."

"Bah, you are flighty, hysterical—"

"I was, I am not now."

"Then don't talk of such things, think of the 未来."

"There is not one for me."

Mrs. Sacret was uneasy at this 会社／堅い, somber トン. Have I 押し進めるd her too far? she wondered as she said aloud pleasantly:

"You should not live here, so 孤立するd and brooding—"

"I am not fit company for anyone, save for you."

"You speak wildly—do pray consider that you were crazy with love for Sir John Curle."

"Crazy indeed. Do you suppose I could ever look at him again, or he at me? My husband's death has separated us forever."

Mrs. Sacret looked up and 注目する，もくろむd her friend apprehensively. Susan did not behave with her usual 部分的に／不公平に incoherent foolishness, she seemed to mean what she said, to have come out of the long apathy that had followed her husband's death with some strength and 目的. Her beauty that had bloomed with the sea 空気／公表する and the care of the anxious Curtis now seemed, to her friend's envious ちらりと見ること, but a luster over an inner sickness: she was much thinner, her 注目する，もくろむs were overlarge, her manner was 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な and 激しい, she was certainly changed from the pliable stupid creature that Mrs. Sacret had always contemptuously felt she 完全に 支配するd.

"Don't be alarmed," said Susan, as if she understood this appraising ちらりと見ること. "I am still afraid of you. I still could not 耐える to be 不名誉d. I don't any longer hope you will give up those letters. But I'll 支払う／賃金 you, year by year, month by month, as you wish, to keep 静かな about them. But you may 同様に leave me. You won't get any more out of me by living with me. And I shall be very poor company."

Mrs. Sacret 解任するd how the painter had told her, during one of their last interviews, that she was another woman from the missionary's meek 未亡人 with the sharp 注目する，もくろむ for money whom he had met to 取引 over her house. Susan was altered also, and Mrs. Sacret had not reckoned on that. She had thought that her friend would always remain foolish, malleable, headlong in love with dull Sir John, she had not foreseen that one strong emotion might kill another and that Susan, under the 衝撃 of shock, might develop 面s of her character hitherto unknown even to herself.

"ツバメ 苦しむd horribly, he was 肉親，親類d to me, he never even forgave me, he took it that there was nothing to 許す—he would never listen to anything against me, he begged his mother to help me. I can never forget it." Susan spoke 刻々と, as if 発言する／表明するing thoughts that were 絶えず in her mind.

"Where is your passion for Sir John?" asked Mrs. Sacret scornfully.

"I do not know." The simple words had much strength. Susan moved 静かに into the 影をつくる／尾行するs, 説: "He will understand perfectly, of course."

Mrs. Sacret wondered if she could ever be 圧倒するd by any emotion that would 原因（となる） her to lose her passion for 示す Bellis. She could not imagine one. Still amazed at Susan's 発覚, and even against her own mocking, she believed in the 誠実 of it, she asked incredulously:

"Do you really mean that you will give up everything? All the 未来? All you might have?"

"There is nothing to give up—it is all over, impossible. And do, pray, leave me. There is nothing to 伸び（る） by staying with me, and I shall 支払う／賃金 you what you wish."

Susan went 静かに from the room, her 嘆く／悼むing one with the 影をつくる／尾行するs.

ｧ 40

Mrs. Sacret was かなり perturbed by Susan's 態度. For several days she tried to alter it by specious arguments, but the younger woman was immovable and Mrs. Sacret was 軍隊d to 収容する／認める to herself that the obstinate creature had 解決するd to indulge her stupid 悔恨, or grief, and to have nothing to do with her former lover or her former life. Moreover, that she had 決定するd not to have any pretenses in her 関係 with her tormentor, to 減少（する） all pretenses of friendship with her and, though willing to buy her silence at a handsome price, she was no longer willing to disguise the 残虐な nature of the ugly 処理／取引.

The 状況／情勢 galled Mrs. Sacret's pride. Susan did not 乱用 her, nor even 表明する 軽蔑（する）, there was a blank 無関心／冷淡 in her 態度 to her companion that was worse than contempt. Certainly there was the money, almost 制限のない money, to be had. But greedy as Mrs. Sacret vas, she felt that there was not much glitter about this sordid 取引. She would not be, as she had hoped, the 信用d friend of Lady Curie, 株ing her luxurious 存在 as an equal. She must either live a secluded life with a woman who made no disguise of her 疲れた／うんざりした 憎悪 or she must go into the world alone. Without the painter, how did she know where to go, how to spend her money? In everything she had depended on him, apart from him, no 重要な to the golden world he had 約束d her. 猛烈に she wrote to him at Minton Street and the Pimlico lodgings. The last was returned to her through the 地位，任命する office, the second she 設立する on the dirty mat in the mean hall when she went up to London to 問い合わせ for him. Though she humbled herself to ask questions of the neighbors, she could hear nothing of him. He had disappeared 完全に and she began to feel a 気が進まない despair, the dazzling dreams to which she clung so tenaciously began to 消える into a 厳しい and ありふれた light. And with her 猛烈な／残忍な 失望 was mingled wonder. Of what was he afraid? Why had he, with booty he had considered 不十分な, abandoned an adventure which he had so 熱望して undertaken? She searched over the house, now in a wretched 条件 from neglect, fouled by mice and 黒人／ボイコット beetles, in the frantic hope of finding some trace of him—there was 非，不，無.

Only one 所有／入手 of his remained, the old wide trunk that had served as a model's 王位 when he had painted her portrait.

She opened it now, for the first time. It was empty, smelled unpleasantly and was smeared with dark brown stains. She supposed he had been using it to pack some of his paint 構成要素s in, and 流出／こぼすd some varnish. Then she supposed that he had, at one time, kept an animal, a pet clog, in it as a kennel, for there were coarse gray hairs stuck to the torn linen lining. She could not think of him as owning a dog, she disliked animals herself, and supposed that he did. She dropped the lid of the trunk and stood unutterably alone in the dismal little room.

When she had returned to Brighton she was 軍隊d to consider her 未来 計画（する）s. Susan 申し込む／申し出d her five hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs to leave England at once, and certainly it was very dull and very disagreeable to pass the lengthening days with Susan, silent and 敵意を持った, melancholy and 孤立した, Curtis barely civil and the other servants impertinent. She cast about in her active mind as to how she could use her supposed 所有／入手 of the letters with old Mrs. Rue and Sir John Curle. She soon 解任するd any idea of 伸び（る）ing any advantage from ツバメ Rue's mother. Eager as she would be to have proof of her daughter-in-法律's wickedness in her 手渡すs, she would not be fooled, she would 主張する on seeing the letters that Mrs. Sacret no longer 所有するd. And while she was wondering what the baronet would give to 抑える Susan's 自白, she read in the Morning 地位，任命する that he had gone to Rome for an 不明確な／無期限の period, shutting up his town 議会s and putting his 広い地所 in the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of a steward.

This was like a blow over the heart to Mrs. Sacret; it 証明するd that Susan was 本気で 決定するd to remain a 未亡人, that Sir John would make no 成果／努力 to induce her to change her mind, and that she, Olivia Sacret, had lost any chance she might have had of だまし取るing some advantage from him. It stung her 激しく that he, the opulent, lazy man, to whom travel was nothing, should have gone to Italy, the country chosen for her peculiar dreams. While she was hesitating as to her 未来 course, and dragging on, from hour to hour, in the nervous hope of 審理，公聴会, at last, from the painter, several events befell that distracted her from her 混乱s.

A copy of the Lancet was sent to Susan whose horror was so 激しい that she showed it to Mrs. Sacret. The 定期刊行物 含む／封じ込めるd a 医療の history of the death of ツバメ Rue written by Dr. Balance, with the 分析家's 報告（する）／憶測 and that of the 地位，任命する-mortem. As there were comments Mrs. Sacret could not see any "害（を与える）," as she put it, in the article, though the 詳細（に述べる）s were, undoubtedly, horrid. But the 未亡人 of ツバメ Rue was thrown into an agony of 苦しめる at this 復活 of the 事例／患者, after several months, and in so poignant a manner.

"It is your 嫌悪すべき mother-in-法律," said Mrs. Sacret. "She has been working in the dark. I daresay the 陪審／陪審員団 did 会合，会う at the house—but what does it 事柄?"

This わずかに uneasy question was soon answered.

While the two ladies were living so 静かに at Brighton, someone certainly had been making 成果／努力s to have the death of ツバメ Rue more 完全に 調査／捜査するd than had been done at the 検死 held at the Old Priory.

The Morning 地位，任命する 報告（する）／憶測d that Sergeant Sir Peter Hill had raised the question of a その上の 調査 into "the Clapham Mystery," as the newspapers were already 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語ing it, and the home 長官, Lord Milton, 約束d a 私的な sitting by Mr. Plumpton, K.C., solicitor to the 財務省, for the 目的 of 精査するing the 証拠 as to the 原因（となる） of ツバメ Rue's violent death.

This startling news, 平等に distasteful to both the ladies, but for different 推論する／理由s, was followed by a letter from Susan's solicitor, Mr. Atherton, 知らせるing her that he was aware that neither she nor Mrs. Sacret would be called before this august 法廷 and advising her that he was 申し込む／申し出ing, in her 指名する, a reward of five hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs to anyone bringing 今後 （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） as to the 購入（する） of antimony by her late husband.

"He had it in his Indian basket," said Susan faintly. "What does Mr. Atherton mean?"

This question was also soon answered; the lawyer （機の）カム to Brighton and advised both the ladies to send in 令状ing the 証拠 that they had not been called upon to give before Dr. Plumpton.

Susan, at once, and without any of the vagueness usual to her, wrote 負かす／撃墜する an account of MY HUSBAND'S SUICIDE, this 含む／封じ込めるd nothing that she had not said before. Though she had not been a 証言，証人／目撃する at the 検死, she had spoken without hesitation of the events of that horrible night, and now she had nothing to 追加する, nothing to keep 支援する.

Mrs. Sacret's description of the death of ツバメ Rue was succinct, but she put in one 詳細（に述べる） she had not given at the 検死, when she 明言する／公表するd that when she had first 急ぐd to his 援助 the dying man had gasped—"I have taken 毒（薬） for Curle, don't tell Susan."

Mr. Atherton scrupulously 辞退するd to read these 声明s that were sent under 調印（する）s to the 財務省, both the ladies 保証するing him that what they had written 含む／封じ込めるd nothing in the way of fresh 証拠. A fortnight later, time that passed quickly for Mrs. Sacret and Susan for they had become uneasy friends, drawn together by a vague 苦悩 and spent their time in discussing what this 再開するing of the 事例／患者 might mean—what could it mean—they agreed, but that the malice of old Mrs. Rue was 解決するd to expose Susan's 計画（する）s for 離婚 as the 推論する／理由 for her husband's 自殺. The 弁護士／代理人／検事 general, Sir Mile Finch, made an 使用／適用 to the 法廷，裁判所 of Queen's （法廷の）裁判 to have the 検死官's 調査 quashed and another 検死 on ツバメ Rue held The （民事の）告訴s against the first 調査 were that neither Dr. Balance nor old Mrs. Rue had been 許すd to give 証拠, though both had 願望（する）d to do so, and that both had since sworn on 誓い that they knew that the dead man had had no 意向 of taking his own life; also that Mrs. Sacret, in her 声明 to the 財務省, had introduced 事柄 that she had withheld at the 検死, the dying man's 自白 of 自殺. Mr. Atherton reproached Mrs. Sacret for not 知らせる ing him of this 新規加入 to her sworn 証拠. He wished to know why she had not at first made this 声明 and also why she had thought fit to make it now. Olivia Sacret 影響する／感情d the demure, un worldly missionary's 未亡人, her spirits 燃やすd by the unusual 状況／情勢 in which she 設立する herself. She told the lawyer that she had 抑えるd Sir John Curle's 指名する at the 検死 out of consideration for Susan and had について言及するd it now because she was afraid to 隠す anything, the 事例／患者 having 得るd such alarming publicity.

"Not alarming, madam, my （弁護士の）依頼人 has nothing to 恐れる," frowned the lawyer. "The whole needless fuss and bother is 借りがあるing to the malice of a 干渉 old woman, jealous of her daughter-in-法律 and infatuated with her son, even when he is dead. She has whipped it all up—with her doctors, lawyers and members of 議会. It is true," he 追加するd in a 不平（をいう）, "that the 事件／事情／状勢 was 不正に managed, the coronet incompetent and three of the 医療の men too complacent. It would have been better to have called this Dr. Balance then, and the 年上の Mrs. Rue and get it over. And a pity that you, Mrs. Sacret, had to alter your 証拠. What you have 認める now was probably just the final 推論する／理由 for ordering a 再開するing of the 事例／患者."

"I never thought of that!" exclaimed Mrs. Sacret with a bitterness that Mr. Atherton thought was 関心 for Susan but which was really 関心 at her own clumsiness. How stupid her master would consider her if he ever got to know of her 失敗! If she had stuck to her first 証拠, perhaps neither the 医療の men nor old Mrs. Rue would have been able to have the 事例／患者 再開するd.

"I told Dr. Virtue," she sighed.

"Yes, and he says he 税金d the dying man with it, who 宣言するd 前向きに／確かに he had never made such a 自白, so the doctor did not feel 強いるd to について言及する this at the 検死."

"Mr. Rue was crazy with jealousy, for which he had not the least 原因（となる）," said Mrs. Sacret. "He must have been out of his senses to commit 自殺 and so hardly knew what he said to me."

"Plausible, and yet all the doctors agree he was perfectly sane. No one has been known to 毒（薬） himself with antimony before."

"He must have been mad," 勧めるd Mrs. Sacret.

"If you thought so, you need not have repeated what he said. There is no 記録，記録的な／記録する in any 化学者／薬剤師's shop in London of his 購入（する） of antimony."

"He had it in that Indian basket."

"No trace of it, the doctors 宣言する, and all his 購入（する）s have been gone into—the only dangerous 麻薬s he had or was known to 購入（する） were those he 認める to—laudanum and chloroform."

"He must have got it somewhere." Then Mrs. Sacret 強化するd this feeble comment by a daring 投機・賭ける. "Is not antimony used for horses? Might there not have been some in the stables?"

"Uncommon knowledge for a lady," 発言／述べるd the lawyer. "A shrewd comment."

"My father kept horses," said Mrs. Sacret, 大きくするing the overworked doctor's nag which drew the worn gig into a country gentleman's stables, and 追加するing a quick 嘘（をつく）. "He told me antimony was used as a drench for them—he used to 警告する me from 干渉するing with anything in the stables."

"I cannot touch on any of this now," replied Mr. Atherton. "I advise you to engage a barrister to look after your 利益／興味s. This second 調査 will make a 取引，協定 of noise. It is very rare for the 栄冠を与える to upset the findings of a 検死官's 法廷，裁判所."

"Oh, it doesn't signify much how he got the 毒（薬）, everyone knows he took it!" smiled Olivia Sacret. "It is 単に a スキャンダル for nothing, save to gratify old Mrs. Rue's spite. But even if she publishes to the world her opinion that her son was driven mad by jealousy of Susan, I shall be able to 宣言する that he was unbalanced on this 支配する and that her 事件／事情／状勢 with Sir John Curle was やめる innocent."

"Don't, pray, 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 it an 事件／事情／状勢," 命令（する）d the lawyer はっきりと and this 関心 for the fair 指名する of Susan, who had been a married man's secret mistress, 怒り／怒るd the virtuous Mrs. Sacret who 再結合させるd tartly, "They were much talked of, Susan was not at all 慎重な."

"You need not remember that, Mrs. Sacret."

"I must, if questioned on the 支配する. Everyone knows, so what will it 事柄? I daresay it will be 苦しめるing for Susan, but she will get over it, and making one's husband jealous isn't a 罪，犯罪."

"I don't think that you realize the 真面目さ of this 事例／患者, Mrs. Sacret. The 調査 will be most 徹底的な, some of the most brilliant men in the 合法的な profession will be 簡潔な／要約するd for it, the public 利益／興味 is enormous."

"Why?" asked Mrs. Sacret 刻々と.

"許す me," said Mr. Atherton, taking up his hat, "to repeat to you what was said by the lord 裁判長 in reply to the 弁護士／代理人／検事 general. This 報告（する）／憶測 is not, I believe, in the papers yet."

"I have not seen it—we live retired here."

"Lord Moore said—'In your 見解（をとる） it is not a 事例／患者 of 自殺?'—and Sir Miles Finch answered, 'Should it 証明する to be 殺人, as I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う it is, I hope we shall elicit some facts which would 正当化する a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 against someone.' I hope you will 許す some importance to those two 声明s."

But Mrs. Sacret, with admirable courage, continued to reply—"How absurd! Who could, or would, have 殺人d ツバメ Rue!"

"That, unfortunately," frowned the lawyer, taking his leave, "is 正確に what this second 検死 ーするつもりであるs to find out. Pray impart this news carefully to Mrs. Rue. I 自白する I 縮む from doing so myself."

ｧ 41

Olivia Sacret was stung by a 冷淡な pang equal to that she had felt when she had seen her 二塁打 hurrying before her up the 雨の, lamplit street She soon 推論する／理由d this 恐れる away, but the 影をつくる／尾行する of it remained with her, as the 影をつくる／尾行する of the fat woman in the crape and 黒人／ボイコット bombazine had remained in the little room at Minton Street after her 出発. What she had 脅すd then, she was now putting into practice; how long, 根気よく and carefully she must have worked ーするために bring about this most 予期しない result! Olivia Sacret winced before this demonstration of 憎悪, for she did not for a moment credit that old Mrs. Rue's 動機 was love for her lost son. Another reflection was 極端に unpleasant to the 警報 and anxious missionary's 未亡人, and that was the wise move the painter had made in disappearing so 早期に from these 複雑化s and the unlikelihood of his return until the second 検死 was over.

But soon after he will come 支援する, if only for more money from Susan, for I am sure that this time there will be no 疑問 about the 判決.

She 設立する this cheerful thought 確認するd by Susan's reaction when she broke to her the news that Mr. Atherton had 恐れるd would 証明する so dreadful to ツバメ Rue's 未亡人, for the sad young woman, though shuddering at the prospect of having her 事件／事情／状勢s discussed before a public 法廷, 解任するd the suggestion of 殺人 as grotesque, and failed to understand the comment of the 弁護士／代理人／検事 general before the 法廷，裁判所 of Queen's （法廷の）裁判. Her 発言／述べる was that made by Mrs. Sacret to Mr. Atherton.

"Who could have 殺人d poor ツバメ!" and she 追加するd sorrowfully, "He had no enemies."

"Of course it was 自殺," answered Mrs. Sacret. "And though it will be horrid for you, you must 収容する／認める that he was crazy with jealousy."

"It was true—I drove him to it. It will be part of my 罰 to 自白する that—but oh, Olivia, I do wish Sir John's 指名する could have been kept out of this!"

"It cannot. You made yourself so 目だつ."

"ツバメ never について言及するd him, never reproached me, even when dying in those agonies—"

"He について言及するd him to me, and I can't commit 偽証 even for you—but you need not 恐れる—"

"—the letters?" put in Susan はっきりと. "I know you will spare my 評判, for if it is lost, you will not be able to ゆすり，恐喝 me."

Mrs. Sacret was angry at anyone as stupid as Susan discovering the truth and she answered 厳しく: "What an ugly, vulgar word! But I won't be 悩ますd. I am still your best friend. I shall be careful to 強調する that your friendship with Sir John Curle was 高度に respectable, that you have not seen him since your second marriage and that Mr. Rue was crazy with jealousy inflamed by his horrible mother."

"You can tell the truth, as you saw it at the Old Priory. I had nothing to 隠す there."

"Oh, I am not so sure—better not 明言する／公表する you were 圧力（をかける）ing for a 離婚 and 存在 辞退するd and avowing to me that you were 深い, headlong 深い in love with Sir John Curle."

"No need to bring in that 指名する," agreed Susan faintly. "As for the 残り／休憩（する）—it will come out—my mother-in-法律 will tell all she can against me.

"She will overdo it and show her spite and prejudice herself—you must 信用 to me to do what I can for you. Mr. Atherton thought I should have a lawyer to 代表する me. And so I should, I suppose. But I have no money. You must 請け負う this expense for me!"

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, but why do you need a lawyer? No one will have anything to 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 you with. I shall be exposed as a heartless wife who drove her husband to 自殺."

This innocence exasperated Mrs. Sacret. How dense Susan was, にもかかわらず her 時折の flashes of shrewdness and insight! In what a dull manner she was 扱うing this 事件／事情／状勢 and how stupid, almost imbecile, her life had been since her husband's death! Susan seemed to catch something of her companion's 軽蔑（する）, for she said あわてて, putting 支援する the 激しい hair that had fallen over her 注目する，もくろむs—"I don't understand any of this lawyers' work, I don't know what any of them mean—my mind, my heart, are 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on what I did—原因（となる）ing ツバメ to destroy himself."

Mrs. Sacret 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 許す this to pass, but could not resist 説: "Do you not understand what the 弁護士／代理人／検事 general （人命などを）奪う，主張するd and the lord 長，指導者 司法（官） 許すd, that this was a 事例／患者 of 殺人?"

"Ridiculous," said Susan sadly. "Why do they think of that when the horrid truth is so （疑いを）晴らす?"

"Supposing they were 訂正する?" 需要・要求するd Mrs. Sacret, goading herself as 井戸／弁護士席 as Susan.

Stung into 認めるing the 可能性 of this monstrous thing, Susan flashed—"Then I hope any such wicked, wicked person is caught and hanged!"

"Oh, dear me, I never saw you so angry! And yet you 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be 解放する／自由な of him! 井戸／弁護士席, of course it was 自殺, as will be 証明するd. You don't know anyone who had any grudge against poor Mr. Rue?"

"No, indeed, he was the kindest of men!" cried Susan 温かく. "He lived retired, as you know, because of his health—and gave no 罪／違反 to any, his 商売／仕事 friends speak very 高度に of him."

"Some servants, perhaps?"

"What are you 説, Olivia! I think that you must be crazy, also."

"Oh, I didn't mean the women, I thought perhaps someone in the stables, you know how rough they are, and if one were under 解雇／（訴訟の）却下—"

"I don't know anything about them, and ツバメ didn't much—he hardly went into the stables."

"Didn't he 非難する anyone for 存在 thrown—as he was, several times?"

"No, he knew that he was a poor rider. Thompson the 長，率いる gardener was 充てるd to him, because of the 温室—Oh, pray, don't talk of these things." Susan paused, then 追加するd 猛烈に: "I think I must have a glass of ワイン tonight."

"Why not

"You know I have not taken any ワイン since I （機の）カム to Brighton."

"Yes," agreed Mrs. Sacret indifferently. It was now no 事柄 to her whether Susan drank too much ワイン or not. "I'm sure you're silly to keep yourself so low."

"I have been taking those sleeping pills that Dr. Virtue gave me, and I have not 設立する it so difficult to give up the ワイン. You know why I do it—because he always tried to 妨げる me. I do it as a 尊敬の印 to him."

"It is a mawkish 肉親，親類d of sacrifice," sneered Mrs. Sacret. "He was always so rude to you about this, 侮辱ing you before the servants."

"I deserved it—I did drink too much because I was so unhappy."

"Anyhow, you can take some to keep your spirits up. ワイン was never one of my 誘惑s, but I could do with a glass myself now and then, in this tedious place."

"Olivia," asked Susan, "what are your 誘惑s? I have never understood you nor what you 手配中の，お尋ね者—you never seemed to have anything or to care for anyone—you said just now you had no money. What have you done with that I gave you—the jewels?"

"I am saving for my old age," replied Mrs. Sacret with a horrid grin at 存在 thus reminded how she had been plundered. "And as for not caring for anyone, what do you know of me?" Repenting this savage question, she quickly muttered, "It is true I have had no one to care for since Frederick died, you always misjudged me. I 単に want to save a little toward—a cottage in the country."

Susan 星／主役にするd at her, then sank 支援する into her 平易な 議長，司会を務める, crying softly.

"Do try to collect yourself," said Mrs. Sacret, still 紅潮／摘発するd from 怒り／怒る. "Was there no one who might have done Mr. Rue a mischief?"

"No one. How can you make such shocking suggestions!"

"The lawyers have something up their sleeves no 疑問. They will wonder why anyone should take antimony for 自殺 when laudanum and chloroform were at 手渡す, they will 示唆する antimony was in the stables as a horse 薬／医学."

"Oh, was it

"I'm sure I don't know, but it usually is. Now are you やめる sure, Susan, that there was not someone の中で the stable men, who disliked your husband, someone who had been 解任するd, perhaps?"

Mrs. Sacret was astonished at the change in Susan's 直面する, as if that stupid woman had suddenly understood the 趣旨 of what her friend was trying to 伝える to her. Rising, 警報 and startled, the young 未亡人 exclaimed: "I had forgotten John Blair—he was 解任するd—"

"Yes?" 勧めるd Mrs. Sacret 熱望して.

"By Captain Dasent," continued Susan, "for some fault, I have forgotten—he 控訴，上告d to me, and I 設立する him a place with Sir John Curie, at the mews where he keeps his horses in London. Then I took Blair 支援する when I married ツバメ—"

"And they quarreled?"

"Oh, no! Blair was very grieved when ツバメ died."

"He was not under notice?"

"No. ツバメ liked him, he was the only man I knew of in the stables."

怒り／怒るd by this folly, Mrs. Sacret tried to keep 冷静な／正味の.

"Why について言及する this trifle?"

"I don't know—you spoke the word, 解任するd. I thought of Blair, of course it doesn't signify," said Susan きっぱりと. "I don't know what I was thinking of—"

"Where is this man now?"

"He asked me for a letter to Sir John, giving him a good character. I did so. He may have returned to that service, as you know I am not aware of Sir John's movements, or even if he is in England or not."

Mrs. Sacret did not know what to make of this piece of （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that she turned over quickly in her keen mind.

"Why were you so startled when you 解任するd the 存在 of this man, Susan?"

"I remembered the happy times—it was like a blow," murmured Susan. "When I was married to Captain Dasent—and he cared for me and 尊敬（する）・点d me—Blair was turned off because one of the carriage horses was too frisky and he was afraid for me—"

"And you 悔いる that?"

"Yes, to be 安全な, and 尊敬（する）・点d."

"But you had not even met the man you love."

"That was why I was happy," replied Susan 簡単に. "And it is over—loved, not love. No, I have no love any longer in my heart for anyone."

Mrs. Sacret considered a little, then said:

"You せねばならない try to 縮める this horrid 調査 as much as possible, out of 尊敬（する）・点 for the memory of poor Mr. Rue—and just in 事例／患者 anyone—some servant—was 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd of a 罪，犯罪, you せねばならない 断言する you are sure it was 自殺."

"Yes, I shall do that," 宣言するd Susan readily. "I believe so—to 宣言する it will be my first 罰."

"You せねばならない begin by 令状ing to Mr. Atherton and 説 that this is your 有罪の判決, and putting in every little thing you can remember that makes you so sure."

"Do you think so? Very 井戸／弁護士席. I shall 令状 tonight."

"And—Susan—what do you suppose—he—took the 毒（薬） in?"

"I have often thought of that," whispered the young 未亡人. "You know—ah, you would not know—but he always had a carafe of 冷淡な water by his 病人の枕元 and drank a glass of it before going to bed. I think of him—oh, how horrible—going to his cupboard, taking the 毒（薬） from the Indian basket and putting it in that glass of water."

"If you had について言及するd that habit before, I should have kept the 瓶／封じ込める and the tumbler—but everything was moved in the 混乱."

"It doesn't 事柄. I wish I did not think of it so often. Was it that evening that you gave me a glass of your special 薬／医学 for him?"

"No—not that evening."

"I am so bewildered. Scenes—pictures—転換 about in my 長，率いる, いつかs upside 負かす／撃墜する. I see you with a glass—"

"Salt and water. I rang for that at once. Now you must not think of these sad 事件／事情／状勢s. Perhaps you would care for a dose of that 薬／医学 of 地雷? It is only a 穏やかな sedative. It used to 利益 poor Mr. Rue."

"No—I shall 令状 to Mr. Atherton."

ｧ 42

When Mr. Atherton received that letter he 召喚するd Mrs. Sacret to London, and in his stately offices at Lincoln's Inn rather 厳しく 明言する／公表するd that he 演説（する）／住所d himself to her as "the more intelligent of the two ladies. Mrs. Rue is as simple as a schoolgirl, for all her two marriages. At least so I suppose."

Mrs. Sacret agreed and listened 静かに as this sedate, keen-直面するd man continued, in トンs that were not without a 公式文書，認める of 警告, to impress on her the need of Susan and herself "telling the same tale. 明白に you will both be telling the exact truth. But it is 平易な even for two veracious accounts to jar on one another, even to 混乱させる or 否定する one another."

"Yes," agreed Mrs. Sacret, who had already decided to concert her 証拠 with Susan's—"but she is weak and obstinate and may be difficult to guide."

"Then you must 脅す her, Mrs. Sacret. The 栄冠を与える are 決定するd to 証明する 殺人."

"殺人—"

"As I told you. The 調査 is to 調査／捜査する how ツバメ Rue （機の）カム to take the antimony, but にもかかわらず, the 起訴 is 解決するd on finding a 殺害者. They have a brilliant team of counsel—"

"It is absurd—the suggestion of 殺人, I mean."

"正確に. You must, however, be very （疑いを）晴らす and 肯定的な in your 証拠 as to 自殺, Mr. Rue's 自白 to you, his low spirits, his jealousy of his wife—any 脅しs of self-破壊 that he may have made. Mrs. Rue must agree with you. Both of you must be unshaken. Remember that the 栄冠を与える will be looking for 動機 and 適切な時期."

"No one had either," smiled Mrs. Sacret, 製図／抽選 on her gloves. She felt a thrill of almost joyous emotion, the sense of 力／強力にする that had come over her when she had 競うd with old Mrs. Rue and her son, 反抗するing them, 持つ／拘留するing to her own way, in the same fashion she would 反抗する these lawyers of whom Mr. Atherton spoke with such 尊敬（する）・点, even 恐れる. She saw herself 会合, watching all these men, 保安官d by the malice of old Mrs. Rue, perfectly 安全な・保証する—for who would know what had been painted on the 塀で囲む of Lyndbridge House?

She regretted that out of regard for decorum she must appear, if not in her 初めの 嘆く／悼むing, at least in half 嘆く／悼むing, for she would have liked to have imagined herself as the dead man had, so oddly, seen her, brilliantly colored as the puce and scarlet salvia he had given her in his 救済 that she was leaving his house.

"Why are you smiling?" asked Mr. Atherton. "This is a serious 事柄."

But Mrs. Sacret was no longer 内密に pleased with her thoughts. She had 解任するd that ツバメ Rue had foretold 災害 if she did not 出発／死 from the Old Priory and she had also, in thinking over past finery and Lyndbridge, remembered her festive dress that she had last seen on the 人物／姿／数字 of her 二塁打 hurrying through the rain and dark.

"Now you look alarmed," 追加するd the lawyer. "No need for that either. I want you to 会合，会う your counsel—Mr. Cyril Southey, Q.C. I have, as her 合法的な 助言者, 簡潔な／要約するd Sir Matthew Falkland for Mrs. ツバメ Rue."

ｧ 43

The interview with this famous barrister, whose 料金 would be paid by Susan, was a 楽しみ to Mrs. Sacret. She liked fooling this brilliant man, telling him a smooth tale 滑らかに, that was so 近づく the truth as to deceive 完全に. The schoolgirl friendship, Susan's 親切 in her 早期に widowhood, her position as companion to an idle childless woman, unhappily married, was plausible to commonplace. Mrs. Sacret had only to omit what she knew Susan would never speak of the letters, the money paid over, the gift of the jewels, the 敵意—and the story was as true as it was creditable.

Some of Mrs. Sacret's questions were admired by the lawyer who 設立する them very pertinent.

She 率直に asked on whom 疑惑 of a 罪，犯罪 would 落ちる. And Mr. Southey as 率直に told her—"on the wife, she had the 適切な時期, and, probably, the 動機."

"Where could she get the antimony?"

"The 栄冠を与える may have 証拠 as to that," replied Mr. Southey 慎重に. "It is not difficult to 得る. Unfortunately it was ありふれた knowledge in that 世帯 that Mrs. Rue was trying to 得る a 離婚, that her husband was resisting this and 極端に jealous."

"Those could be 動機s for 自殺."

"Yes, but also for 殺人. We cannot 避ける that. The points for the 栄冠を与える are—the 誓い Mrs. Rue took, again and again, that he had taken nothing dangerous, the 欠如（する） of 証拠 as to 脅しs of 自殺, the 証拠 of Mrs. George Rue and three of the doctors that the dead man was not likely to take his life—the 起こりそうにない事 of anyone swallowing—knowingly—antimony—"

Mrs. Sacret 許すd him to talk, his words 消えるd into her thoughts for he was only 説 what was, already, so familiar to her, and talking of 事柄s to which she held the 重要な and he did not. Nor did Mr. Southey consider that this important 証言，証人／目撃する 要求するd much in the way of 指示／教授／教育, she seemed to understand her part very 井戸／弁護士席, only, before she left, he 警告するd her against self-contradiction. This had been one of the （民事の）告訴s of the first 検死—that might be accounted for by her 嘆願 that she had wished to 避ける a スキャンダル for Susan, but she had 刺激するd that by her について言及する of Sir John Curie and would be 推定する／予想するd to tell the whole truth. "A pity, Mrs. Sacret, that in your 声明 to the 財務省 you brought in this man who was 以前は a friend of Mrs. ツバメ Rue's."

"I did so to make Mr. Rue's 自白 納得させるing—that is what he really said."

"The 指名する might 井戸／弁護士席 have been 抑えるd from 親切 to Sir John and to Mrs. Rue."

"But I know and can 断言する that their friendship was 完全に 害のない."

"But the husband may not have thought so."

Mrs. Sacret caught him up.

"If Mrs. Rue had been Sir John's mistress, would that make the 事例／患者 against her stronger?"

The lawyer was surprised by the 軍隊 and indelicacy of this 発言／述べる; he 直す／買収する，八百長をするd a 侵入するing and unfriendly 注目する，もくろむ on this intelligent and 冷淡な woman, to him 極端に unattractive for all her soft hazel 注目する，もくろむs and hair and gentle 発言する／表明する.

"Assuredly it would," he replied 厳しく. "There is no 事例／患者 against her, as you so rashly surmise, but if her moral character were 爆破d she would lose all sympathy from the 陪審／陪審員団, the 圧力（をかける）, the public, and it would 供給する a strong 動機 for 罪，犯罪. If a woman of Mrs. Rue's 産む／飼育するing and temperament can bring herself to break one commandment, she may the more easily bring herself to break another. Such a suggestion would 廃虚 the lover also. He would at once appear as a possible 共犯者. No hint of this unwarranted 仮定／引き受けること, I pray, Mrs. Sacret."

"Indeed no, Susan's 評判 is 安全な with me. I know that this friendship was 害のない, why, I believe she hardly saw Sir John since her second marriage—"

"Hardly? She never saw him at all, or wrote to him—you as her constant companion must know that."

"Only her constant companion for the last year and a half, Mr. Southey. I was in Jamaica when she married. Sir John was frequently in London. I thought they met, in an ordinary social way, and wrote."

"No such thing. The 関係 was ended, very 適切に, on Mrs. Dasent's second marriage."

"Sad that Lady Curle did not die sooner, was it not? Though I must say Sir John is not romantic looking, though he has the 空気／公表する of a gentleman."

"You have seen him, then?"

"Yes—you must not ask me where. He doesn't move in my world, I know, so of course you are surprised. Perhaps I met him through Susan. I'll forget it."

"It need not come into your 証拠," replied the lawyer coldly. "It will not be needful for you to volunteer 声明s, not germane to your 証言—the 調査 is as to how antimony （機の）カム into the 団体／死体 of Mr. ツバメ Rue. It is most 残念な there has been no 返答 to the reward of five hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs 申し込む／申し出d for （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） as to Mr. Rue's 購入（する） of this 毒（薬）."

"He had it in his Indian basket, of course."

"I 恐れる that we cannot 証明する that."

"I might have seen it."

"No—don't 緊張する your imagination, Mrs. Sacret. You will only prejudice the value of your 証拠 that will 証言する to the 見込み of 自殺."

In the train returning to Brighton Mrs. Sacret decided not to 警告する Susan of the position in which she stood. It would be useless to 努力する to 計画（する） a 一致した story with her. Susan was too honest, too foolish, too 圧倒するd by 悔恨 to be able to arrange her tale, she would 単に tell the truth, however she was 用意が出来ている. And Mrs. Sacret believed that the young 未亡人's simple-mindedness was so innocent, and her 有罪の判決 of her husband's 自殺 so strong, that she would be unable to しっかり掴む the significance of the 疑惑 cast on her. This might even, Mrs. Sacret believed, have the 影響 of unsettling her wits, already painfully agitated by her long brooding in seclusion at Brighton. But Mrs. Sacret made one of those mistakes that she did not believe herself 有能な of making. Having 辞退するd to break gently the horrid news to Susan, this （機の）カム to her in a pang of horror, through 匿名の／不明の letters that she unwittingly opened, and in the expressionless トンs of her counsel, Sir Matthew Falkland. He thought it 慎重な to advise the recluse of Brighton that she was 存在 reviled, lampooned, and mocked everywhere idle tongues wagged, while the 圧力（をかける）, with no regard for the 事例／患者 存在 sub judice, contrived to 供給（する） their readers with piquant スキャンダルs relating to "The Clapham Mystery."

Mrs. Sacret was in error again as to her guess about Susan's probable 行為 under this terrible ordeal. Far from 崩壊（する）ing, the unhappy young woman showed courage and that firmness of innocence that, to a trained 観察者／傍聴者, is very different from the callousness of 犯罪.

"It is やめる incredible," she said and indeed she thought the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 so—"I have never been able to kill a 飛行機で行く and for anyone to think I could （打撃，刑罰などを）与える such agonies—"

Sir Matthew was 確信して that the 調査 would vindicate his （弁護士の）依頼人, but he was puzzled by some of the features of the 事例／患者 and 勧めるd Mrs. Rue to say all that she in honesty could to 強調する the 見込み of 自殺.

To her companion, in the 静かな of her bedroom, Susan Rue spoke without hesitation.

"I have no 恐れる whatever of this monstrous 疑惑, Olivia—but my 評判 is in your 手渡すs and you know that I value that more than life."

Mrs. Sacret could not sneer at these commonplace words, they were too passionately sincere.

"I have Sir John Curie to think of," continued Susan. "Oh, why did you have to について言及する him!" Then she said, as the lawyer had said—"He would be 廃虚d." Looking at Mrs. Sacret straightly from beautiful 注目する，もくろむs swollen by weeping, she 追加するd—"Strange that I can 信用 you, because you are my enemy. I daresay you would like to expose me 公然と—but then I should not 恐れる you—"

"You speak as if I were a wicked woman—"

"井戸／弁護士席, aren't you?" asked Susan 簡単に.

Mrs. Sacret turned away from the window. There were roses in the garden and she disliked seeing them, they reminded her of that last, treasured day at Lyndbridge House. How thankful she would be when all these sordid 事件／事情／状勢s were over and the painter, 示す Bellis (コマドリ Campion), returned to （人命などを）奪う，主張する her, as he would return when all was 安全な.

Self-pity touched her as she considered how much inactive waiting, how much dull 退屈 she had put through during this intrigue that so far had not brought in much for her. Why, she had not even the diamond bracelet or the handsome 着せる／賦与するs Susan had given her—she had lost even the letters, and, even though her 犠牲者 might never discover that, this gave her a sense of insecurity.

"Wicked," she repeated, her gentle 発言する／表明する touched with reproach. "What have I done, a poor defenseless woman, but try Co look after myself?" She remembered the painter's comments on 不平等s of fortune. "You always had everything, you really 借りがあるd me something—"

"You've had it," interrupted Susan. "Or some of it—I suppose you will go on taking it all my life, but that won't be long."

"Oh, weak people always talk like that! You will live to a 広大な／多数の／重要な old age and, of course, you will marry Sir John Curle, and I shall ask nothing but to be your friend."

Susan shook her beautiful 長，率いる. She had the 静める of one who dreads nothing because she 恐れるs nothing, yet Mrs. Sacret knew that she did 恐れる very 熱心に what she 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d "the loss of her 評判."

"She must be very sure of me, and she is 権利, it is certainly to my 利益／興味 to defend her—and I shall be able to do so."

ｧ 44

The second 調査 into the manner of the death of ツバメ Rue was held in the Silver Lion, at the corner of Clapham ありふれた, and in sight of the Old Priory. The magnificence of the setting was not lost on Mrs. Sacret who felt that here was a 行う／開催する／段階 worthy of her abilities.

The setting was the large 議会 room at the 支援する of the house, with a raised 演壇 on which the 検死官, who had 合法的な 援助, was seated. The array of counsel was formidable. The 弁護士／代理人／検事 general, Sir Miles Finch, appeared in person and he was 補佐官d by Mr. Frank Crompton, Q.C., and Mr. Philip Crighton, Q.C., Mr. Cyril Southey, Q.C., 代表するd Mrs. Sacret and Sir Matthew Falkland, Q.C., the young 未亡人 of the man so mysteriously dead. Mr. Cecil Lampton, Q.C., watched the 事例／患者 for Mrs. George Rue and Mr. Quentin Dance, Q.C., for Sir John Curle.

And to think that I was once an insignificant person! This thought, effacing all others, flashed into the mind of the missionary's 未亡人 as she looked around the （人が）群がるd room, filled with eager and excited people, and 解任するd that Mr. Southey had told her that the 調査 was likely to last a fortnight and to cost the parties 関心d fifteen thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, while the expenses of the 栄冠を与える would certainly be as high, if not higher.

Mrs. Sacret remembered when she had to jealously count her sixpences and the wretched house in Minton Street, her humiliating search for work and the dulling, degrading grind of poverty—and now she had been able to 始める，決める in 動議 this remarkable spectacle, this mighty 支出 and to attract the attention of the entire nation!

She felt it a feat to be proud of, and wished the painter could be there, somewhere lost in that eager, 押し進めるing （人が）群がる, to see her masterpiece. She had 正確に dressed for her part; good living and repose had made her appear young and handsome; the 期待 of the 再開 of her love story—after the very last had been heard of ツバメ Rue—gave a blue luster to her hazel 注目する，もくろむs, a hint of a smile at the corners of her demure mouth. Her dress was 流行の／上流の, gris de perle, her hair in long roller curls, worn with an expensive 黒人／ボイコット hat, for the 残り／休憩（する） she permitted herself to be 明かすd, to wear gray gloves and the silver cross given her by her late husband. She realized that she made a far more striking 人物／姿／数字 than poor Susan, who was ruffled in 高くつく／犠牲の大きい but 不正に worn 少しのd, whose mantle did not fit, whose 隠す was so 深く，強烈に 国境d with crape as to hide her charming 直面する, and who looked at least ten years more than her age. Mrs. Sacret 解任するd her as she had been, in her rosy taffetas and jewels, the first weeks of her stay at the Old Priory, and felt a thrill of 勝利.

The third 未亡人 who had a part in this 演劇 was 不変の, in her bombazine, crape, jet and cloth, all a dingy 黒人／ボイコット, she sat ひどく, as was her habit, her pale, mottled toad's 直面する 星／主役にするing ahead with pale 目だつ 注目する，もくろむs, as if she were alone. The sight of her was pleasant to Mrs. Sacret who considered her as an enemy who would soon be brought to 混乱, and she gave an unflinching ちらりと見ること of malice.

When her turn （機の）カム to give her 証拠, she kept carefully to her 声明 sent to the 財務省, relating yet again the circumstances of the death of ツバメ Rue and her 有罪の判決 that this was 自殺 予定 to unfounded jealousy of his wife, fomented—and here she felt that she dealt a master 一打／打撃—by the ill nature of his mother who continually 干渉するd between the couple and made mischief. She repeated that when she 急ぐd into the room, the dying man had said, "I have taken 毒（薬） for Curle, don't tell Susan," and that after an interval she had told this to Dr. Virtue. She had not について言及するd it to the other doctors or to anyone else as she did not wish to 原因（となる） talk, and she knew that if Mr. Rue 回復するd he would be angry with her for repeating what he had said in his agony. She had given him an emetic, she had not kept any of the 事柄s expelled by the 患者, it had not occurred to her to do so. She knew that Susan Rue had been friendly with Sir John Curle and was sure this was "やめる 害のない." Mr. Rue was very nervous and continually dosing himself. He was not very happy with his wife, she had 示唆するd a 離婚, and he had 脅すd 自殺. This was the gist of Mrs. Sacret's 証拠, given with a modest hesitation, slowly and reluctantly, as if sorry to dwell on the 悲惨s of this unhappy 世帯. She sat, a graceful and demure 人物／姿／数字, gazed on by an eager audience, with downcast ちらりと見ること and elegantly gloved 手渡すs clasped together. She made no errors, was not tricked into anything she did not wish to say—this was the impression she made—and the 批判的な' listeners awarded her a rather grudging 賞賛.

On the other 手渡す Mrs. Rue gave her 証拠 quickly, 明確に, her 隠す thrown 支援する, her 直面する 上昇傾向d. She 確認するd most of what her companion said, but 宣言するd that she had never heard her husband 脅す 自殺. She knew nothing of the 悲劇 beyond what Mrs. Sacret knew. She could not explain why she was so ひどく asleep so 早期に and so had not heard her husband's cries. She knew nothing of any antimony in the house, nor of any 購入（する） of it. She had 示唆するd a 離婚 to her husband and he had been unwilling to agree. She had not seen Sir John Curie since her second marriage. It had been Lady Curle who had been her friend. She was 納得させるd that her husband had taken 毒（薬） out of jealousy.

The five doctors gave the 医療の 証拠 and repeated the dying man's constant 主張 that he had taken nothing beyond laudanum. Dr. Virtue tried to make something of his 患者's 欠如（する） of surprise when told he was 毒（薬）d, but Dr. Balance and Dr. Lemoine 明言する／公表するd their utter 有罪の判決 that ツバメ Rue had been telling the truth and was in 完全にする 所有／入手 of his senses.

They received powerful corroboration from Mrs. George Rue, friends, 知識s, servants. ツバメ Rue "fussed" over his health and "dosed" himself; he 苦しむd from spasms and was not happy, but he had a dread of 苦痛, a horror of death and had never について言及するd 自殺. Those in his 信用／信任 宣言するd that he was 深く，強烈に 大（公）使館員d to his wife, and always 希望に満ちた of winning her affection again. His mother 宣言するd roundly that she was 確かな that he had been 殺人d, and, as it was 借りがあるing to her energy that this second 調査 had been held, her 発言／述べる was given a jealous 尊敬（する）・点.

John Blair, recently coachman at the Old Priory, swore to the presence of antimony on the 前提s. He used it for the horses, as 定める／命ずるd in the Pocket Farrier, and kept it as a lotion, in a 閣僚 in the stables. It was labeled 毒（薬）. When he had left Clapham he had thrown away the contents of this 瓶／封じ込める, he had not 観察するd if any had been used since he had last looked. 医療の 証拠, 解任するd, 明言する／公表するd that 十分な antimony to kill a man could be taken from the usual 量 made up for horses without this 存在 noticeable.

Mrs. Sacret did not know whether to 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 this 証拠 ill or good luck. An unobserved visit to the stables at the Old Priory would have been so 平易な for her that the elaborately planned visit to Lyndbridge House seemed needless, yet that had put her in the mood to take the hint painted on the 塀で囲む of the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 議会, while she would certainly have been shocked had plain 指示／教授／教育s been given to her in Minton Street. Still this 証拠, so 予期しない to Olivia Sacret, would no 疑問 満足させる the 陪審／陪審員団 as to where the antimony had been procured and as to why there had been no claimant for the five-hundred-続けざまに猛撃する reward the 未亡人 had 申し込む／申し出d for （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） as to where her husband had bought the 毒（薬）. If he had ーするつもりであるd this dreadful way of 自殺, the means would have been to his 手渡す.

Mrs. Sacret began to be 混乱させるd, as day after day of the 調査 passed and the bewildered 証言，証人／目撃するs were 支配するd to the cross 解雇する／砲火／射撃 of so many learned counsel; the ground had 転換d from how Mr. Rue had come to take the 毒（薬）, the real 動機 of this second 調査, into what person had a 動機 for wishing his death. The 証言 against the 見込み of the young 銀行業者's taking his own life was strong. にもかかわらず his nervous ill-health and his unhappy marriage, his mother, his 医療の attendants, his friends, 知識s and servants all 退位させる／宣誓証言するd that he had never spoken of 自殺, but indeed had shown an anxious care of his health and that he ーするつもりであるd to make an 不明確な／無期限の struggle to keep his wife's affections, while there was the 課すing fact that during a 長引いた death, ツバメ Rue had 繰り返して sworn before many persons that he had taken nothing more dangerous than a little laudanum. His mother 宣言するd that he had always been of a timid disposition, dreaded 苦痛, and had a horror of self-破壊, regarding it as a 罪，犯罪. There remained only Mrs. Sacret and the young 未亡人 who swore to their 有罪の判決 that ツバメ Rue had committed 自殺, a theory Mrs. Sacret supported by the dead man's 自白 that no one save herself had heard.

By the beginning of the tenth day of the 調査 Sir Matthew Falkland, Q.C., 事実上の／代理 for Susan Rue, was engaged in eliciting from さまざまな 証言，証人／目撃するs the exact position of Mrs. Sacret in the Old Priory. She listened to a 合成物 description of herself, mostly from the servants of the Clapham 設立, with a quickened 利益／興味.

She had known, but hardly realized, how 大いに she had been disliked. Curtis said that Mrs. Rue had never needed a companion, that she had received Mrs. Sacret, who had been a poor, penniless missionary's 未亡人, out of compassion, that Mrs. Sacret had taken cruel advantage of this generosity, got Mrs. Rue "under her thumb," been extravagantly paid, 宿泊するd and dressed, had made mischief between husband and wife and 侮辱d Mrs. George Rue so that she would not visit her son's home. It was 井戸／弁護士席 known の中で his servants that Mr. Rue was always trying to get rid of this interloper. He 宣言するd that one way and another she cost about five hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs a year for which she gave no return どれでも. She was trying to 説得する Mrs. Rue to 身を引く her money from her husband's 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 and then to leave him—Mrs. Rue had told Curtis as much when she was dressing her hair. The poor lady had been painfully 苦しめるd, she had been a changed woman since the arrival of Mrs. Sacret at the Old Priory, before that she had been reasonably happy.

How they 秘かに調査するd, thought Olivia Sacret, listening 激しく to this recital, 十分な of spite and bitterness. And how they 嘘（をつく）. Susan was wretched when I first went to Clapham, and 十分な of （民事の）告訴s of her husband.

She had to sit 静かに while servant after servant 述べるd her as the source of all the trouble in the house, a nobody, not really "a lady," greedy, sly and 干渉, under a demure "chapel manner" smug and complacent. At first she had frequently 引用するd pious axioms, 主張するd on 祈りs and grace and been easily "shocked," but under the 影響（力） of 繁栄 she had "soon dropped off that"—

Mrs. Sacret was startled to hear this. It reminded her how insidiously worldly 影響（力）s had 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるd and how, in a short time, she had forgotten her "chapel ways."

Stupid, I suppose, she thought, stupid. I せねばならない have kept up 外見s, I せねばならない have made friends with the servants, with old Mrs. Rue.

By the end of that day's 審理，公聴会, Sir Matthew Falkland had 設立するd the fact that Mrs. Sacret had been 解任するd, almost 強制的に 排除する／（飛行機などから）緊急脱出するd from the Old Priory the very day on which Mr. Rue was taken ill; worst of all, the maids waiting at （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する that evening had heard her make a last 嘆願 to remain that was 厳しく 辞退するd by ツバメ Rue.

"Did he, by that 拒絶," 需要・要求するd Mr. Cyril Southey, "刺激する a terrible 最高潮 to the 長引かせるd nuisance of this mischief-製造者 in his home?"

He proceeded to draw from the 証言，証人／目撃するs an account of Mrs. Sacret, the first to answer the stricken man's cry for help—"as if she had been waiting for it"—her 歓迎会 of the 自殺 自白 that she 隠すd, telling one doctor only—the family 内科医—some hours afterwards, and no one else, even when ツバメ Rue was 断言するing he had no 手渡す in his own death, her 仮定／引き受けること of 当局 in the sickroom—she, a companion under 解雇／（訴訟の）却下—her 切望 to （疑いを）晴らす away all glass 大型船s, 薬／医学s used by the 患者—her remaining behind in the house for the special 目的 of nursing this man with whom she was on the worst of 条件, who had his own wife and mother, five doctors and a number of 充てるd servants to look after him.

Why did the 部外者, already expelled from the 世帯 by the sick man, arrange this 迅速な 検死 with luxurious refreshments for the 陪審／陪審員団, where she was the 主要な／長／主犯 証言，証人／目撃する, where those against the 自殺 theory were not called—why, then, did she 抑える the 指名する of Sir John Curle, について言及するd by her in her 声明 to the 財務省?

Why was not the anxious wife the first to 飛行機で行く to her husband's 味方する at his shout of agony? Because her companion, who had already 設立するd such a 持つ／拘留する on her, had, in 反抗 of the husband's wishes and orders, kept her 供給（する）d with ワイン. The unfortunate lady was easily 影響（力）d by alcohol and was ひどく asleep from sherry 治めるd by Mrs. Sacret, while that 干渉 woman was in 完全にする 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 設立 from which, at the end of his patience, the master had turned her away. And turned her away to what?

Mrs. Sacret had nothing save a house of a very poor 肉親，親類d, some broken furniture, the cheap wardrobe with which she had come begging to her rich friend, and under one hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs in the bank, while she 借りがあるd money in Jamaica for which she was 存在 dunned. She had tried in vain to 得る work with さまざまな societies and she had no 業績／成就s whereby she could hope to earn a living. She had everything to lose by the loss of her place in the Old Priory.

And why had she kept this sinecure for so long, received handsome 着せる／賦与するs, a diamond bracelet, had a carriage at her 処分 and an absurdly high salary? Everyone hated her—it was （疑いを）晴らす that she remained because she had Mrs. Rue "under her thumb." And why? There was no proof of any affection between the two ladies, rather 証拠 that Mrs. Sacret had brought 苦しめる and terror into the Old Priory. Did not everything point to her having used some 信用／信任 to 軍隊 a weak, 信用ing, ignorant woman into 認めるing her 需要・要求するs? Mrs. Sacret had sworn that to her 確かな knowledge Mrs. Rue's friendship with Sir John Curle had been 完全に innocent, so indeed everyone had taken it to be. It was Mrs. Sacret who had introduced this gentleman's 指名する into the 事例／患者. Might it not be that she had 脅すd Mrs. Rue, 極度の慎重さを要する and delicate, with the public （危険などに）さらす of some 害のない indiscretion, likely to 悩ます her husband and his mother? Ladies were known to go to 広大な／多数の／重要な lengths to guard the least smirch on their 評判s. If this surmise was 訂正する the missionary's 未亡人 was a heartless blackmailer—and where look for the author of a 罪，犯罪 save in the person of a 犯罪の? Such was the essence of the 証拠 elicited by the clever lawyer, but not （疑いを）晴らす to any but the experienced, so 隠すd was it in a 集まり of verbiage.

ｧ 45

This was, however, the story that SIR Matthew had contrived to 現在の to the 陪審／陪審員団 and the public and these the questions he had insinuated into their minds when Mrs. Sacret returned wearily to the Old Priory where she and Susan Rue lived in tacit 一時休戦. It gave 原因（となる） for a mutter of ill-natured gossip that these ladies should choose to return to this scene of ツバメ Rue's death but the truth was that Susan was too helpless to try to find herself another 住居 and too remorseful to wish to spare herself the sight of the scene of her unhappy married life, while Mrs. Sacret cared nothing save for the 慰安 of the house and the proximity to her 犠牲者. The 強いるing cousin had left and the mansion—most of the rooms shut up—was run by Curtis and two of the maids who had returned to their mistress in her trouble; the house had been sold, the menservants 発射する／解雇するd and the の近くにd stables and neglected gardens 追加するd to the gloom of the pretentious 広い地所.

"I wonder you can keep Curtis after all the slanderous things she has said of me, Susan," complained Mrs. Sacret, as they sat together in the charming, over-furnished room that Susan had once 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d her "boudoir."

"非，不，無 of the servants was respectful—they must have listened at keyholes and 秘かに調査するd—they even spoke of you taking too much sherry."

Susan 紅潮／摘発するd, but answered calmly.

"They don't ーするつもりである to say all those things, the lawyers get it out of them, besides they were true, servants see and hear everything. I wonder you are surprised, but then," 追加するd the 豊富な woman, without a trace of malice, "you have never been used to servants."

"But you," retorted Mrs. Sacret with gentle spite, "you contrived to keep at least one secret from them."

"You mean the letters? That was 大部分は your prudence—but you are 権利, a deadly secret one does contrive to keep, even from servants. But Sir Matthew was 近づく the truth, Olivia."

"I don't wonder, the way you blabbed everything to Curtis—"

"I never told her anything of that—Sir Matthew 単に guessed—"

Susan was behaving with a dignified self-支配（する）／統制する that was 悩ますing to Mrs. Sacret who preferred to を取り引きする someone utterly weak and foolish, pliable in her 手渡すs. Certainly Susan had shown more strength of character in this terrible 危機 than Mrs. Sacret would have believed possible a short time before.

"It is part of my 罰, Olivia, to have my 私的な life thus torn to pieces in public."

"If that isn't hypocrisy, it is silliness," said Mrs. Sacret. "Surely you are thinking a little of the 未来?"

"Yes, of saving my 評判. I know I shall have to 支払う／賃金 you 高度に for that. さもなければ, I don't think that there is much to live for—I can't see ahead, I don't care about anything really, only I don't want my 指名する 爆破d—for Sir John's sake and ツバメ's," she 追加するd 突然に. "It would be cruel if he were shown up now as deceived."

"How sentimental!" Mrs. Sacret sneered softly. "I wish this tedious 調査 were over, thousands of 続けざまに猛撃するs wasted through that old woman's wicked spite—"

"No, I do think it must seem strange to her. If I did not know that it was 自殺, I should not believe it myself."

"How do you know?"

"You said he 自白するd it—because of Sir John."

"Oh! You dislike me so much you might disbelieve me—there is no one's word save 地雷."

"I think you are a wicked woman," replied Susan 厳粛に. "But you were brought up on 宗教的な 原則s and I do not credit that you would tell a 嘘（をつく） and such a horrible 嘘（をつく）, on 誓い."

Mrs. Sacret smiled uneasily.

"I am not so bad as you think. I have been a pretty good friend to you, and I shall be a better. I shall bring you and Sir John together, にもかかわらず yourself, and you'll be happy and bless me. And all I shall ask is a little 年金."

The thought darted through her mind as she spoke—will he come soon? Surely he will when this tiresome 調査 is over and he knows he is 安全な—to 株 that 年金.

But Susan replied 厳しく:

"You shall have your 年金, but I shall never willingly see Sir John again."

With that she left the room for the 議会 where the faithful

Curtis を待つd her; Mrs. Sacret would willingly also have gone to bed. She was tired and wished these tedious days to pass as quickly as possible, but her counsel, Mr. Cyril Southey, called to see her, and late as it was, she felt it wise to receive him which she did with her smiling grace, in the big 前線 parlor where the 議長，司会を務めるs were in holland covers, and the ornaments and pictures had been 除去するd. One pale lamp illumined the uncertain light of the fading summer day. Mrs. Sacret in her rich 黒人／ボイコット dress, with her long smooth hazel curls, her serene 表現 and her low 発言する／表明する was an 控訴，上告ing 人物／姿／数字 as she 前進するd to 迎える／歓迎する the lawyer, but he seemed indifferent to her charms and asked roundly if she valued "the meaning of the day's 証拠?"

"Why no, ladies don't understand such things," she smiled gently. "So many 証言，証人／目撃するs, so many lawyers, so much cross-examination! Do, pray, sit 負かす／撃墜する."

"Thank you. I should have thought that you would have understood."

"I only understood," replied Mrs. Sacret, feeling she had 得点する／非難する／２０d a point over this unattractive man who she triumphantly compared with 示す Bellis, "that everyone's character was 存在 traduced, mostly by 秘かに調査するing servants—for no 目的 at all—for nothing whatever was discovered."

As if he had not heard this Mr. Southey continued 突然の. "疑惑 is strong against two people, and two only. Mrs. Rue, because her husband 辞退するd a 離婚 and she wished to return to her former lover, you, because you were under 解雇／（訴訟の）却下 from a 地位，任命する so excellent it is 示唆するd you 借りがあるd it to ゆすり，恐喝. Both had 動機 and 適切な時期. Either of you could have fetched the antimony from the stable."

The 影響 of these words on Mrs. Sacret was so swift and so terrible that for a shocking second Mr. Southey thought that he saw a dead woman sitting before him in the stiff horsehair 議長，司会を務める. She felt herself 急落（する），激減（する）d from serene 安全 to horrible danger and the pang was almost unendurable. She 決起大会／結集させるd, however, to mutter—"Impossible—"

"Strange you did not see what Sir Matthew was doing—you clever women! For I supposed you clever—"

She tried feebly to turn her own 恐れる to account.

"How could I suppose—an 告訴，告発 of—殺人."

"It is one of you—or both in a 陰謀（を企てる）—Sir Matthew was trying to lead away from his （弁護士の）依頼人, Mrs. ツバメ Rue, and I must try to lead him 支援する again."

"To Susan?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Southey, we are both innocent."

"I hope so. We must try for 自殺. But you understand I must cast 疑惑 on Mrs. Rue ーするために save you."

A faint color （機の）カム into Mrs. Sacret's faded cheek, in a prospect that had been utterly 爆破d she saw a sparkle of hope.

"Of course Susan is innocent," she mumbled. "I don't want you to rake up 証拠 against her."

"You began to do that yourself when you について言及するd Sir John Curie's 指名する. Why did you do that?"

"I was on 誓い to tell the truth."

"Truth you 抑えるd at the first 検死, out of womanly 親切, no 疑問. Is there anything else you have kept 支援する you might—when it was a question of your life—divulge?"

"My life—"

"Sir Matthew Falkland's 見解（をとる） is not 株d by the 弁護士／代理人／検事 general—nor by Mr. Lampton watching the 事例／患者 for Mrs. George Rue. The 財務省 is 解決するd to find the 殺害者 but they think rather of the 未亡人, perhaps with you as 共犯者—but Sir Matthew is dangerous."

"There is no 証拠—"

"There is a good 取引，協定. I assume your innocence, of course. I don't 推定する the 犯罪 of Mrs. Rue, but can you, if I put you in the 証言，証人／目撃する box again, say anything to コースを変える 疑惑 from yourself? You have been in Mrs. Rue's 信用／信任, you knew she was desperate for a 離婚—did she never speak of eloping?"

"Yes, but she would not 没収される her good 指名する."

"Ah, an excellent point. A desperate woman. She was much in love with Sir John Curie?"

"Yes."

"And detested her husband?"

"Yes."

"He humiliated her by について言及するing her drinking habits before the servants?"

"Yes."

"Did she show 怒り／怒る?"

"She said again and again—I'll be avenged.'"

"Did she ever visit the stables?"

"Often—I don't know why, she didn't ride."

"She was friendly with Blair, who had been with Sir John Curle?"

"Very friendly—her husband resented this."

"自然に. We have proof that Blair bought antimony on Sir John's account."

"Why—then!" Mrs. Sacret clapped her 手渡す to her heart and was silent.

"He will say it was 決まりきった仕事—he didn't change the 化学者／薬剤師 when he changed masters. He paid cash and it was 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d to Sir John as he had a 許す for 毒（薬）. But it will be impressive. We have proof also that the day before her husband's death a large sum of money and some jewels were brought to her by special messenger. She had arranged for this herself, 内密に. It is possible this money, arranged for without her husband's knowledge, was to enable her to go abroad すぐに after his death—if this had passed unchallenged."

"It is possible," murmured Mrs. Sacret faintly.

"You visited Sir John in his 議会s—that looks as if you were the go-between, you must explain that—"

"I can, I can—I went to implore Sir John to leave Susan in peace, I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to reconcile her to her husband and after the death of Lady Curie, Sir John was 令状ing violent love letters to Susan—"

"That will do very 井戸／弁護士席."

"I did not want to say it, because of the スキャンダル."

"But now perhaps you must, we shall see."

"Yes—how was it known I visited Sir John?"

"Such things are easily 設立する out, Mrs. Sacret."

She was silent in shuddering 恐れる lest that other visit—to Lyndbridge House—bad also been discovered. A desperate cunning held her silent. She kept her 手渡すs very still for she longed to pull frantically at the fringes on her 黒人／ボイコット skirt.

"One doesn't get up a 事例／患者 on 空気／公表する," 観察するd Mr. Southey. "It's useful that you, as missionary's wife and 未亡人, have led what is 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d a blameless life. Your going to the Old Priory can be explained—not so easily the 高級なs you 得るd from your 雇用者."

"My friend—my dearest, earliest friend."

"I shall not fail to 強調する that, nor the 慰安 that Mrs. Rue, so unhappily married, 設立する in your support—but we must not dwell too much on that or a confederacy will be 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd. You must be 用意が出来ている, Mrs. Sacret, to be questioned about your lodger—or tenant."

She did 解除する her 手渡す's now, and felt them like lead 負わせるs on her 武器, and dropped them again.

"There is nothing there," she whispered stiffly. "I let the house to a painter."

"Yes, the police have traced him to Liverpool, from where he sailed to Australia a few weeks ago—a good-for-nothing scamp. 示す Bellis, also Robert Campion, also John Andrews, also Gilbert Duchamps. A clever painter—why, you look ill, Mrs. Sacret!"

She gave a 恐ろしい smile.

"Oh, no! But I am shocked—I thought him a most respectable man."

"I daresay he told you fairy stories. The police don't know everything about him—"

"Not—who he is

"With so many 偽名，通称s—no. He （機の）カム from Australia as a boy, they think. Probably some foundling or low fellow, with a clever brain and a 犯罪の 傾向, though there doesn't seem anything against him save petty 詐欺s on women..I hope you got your rent."

"Yes. I thought him hard working. I （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限d a portrait. I suppose you have been told I used to go and see him." Conscious that she was defending herself against a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 that had not been made she checked and 追加するd dully: "This man has nothing to do with the 事例／患者."

"No," agreed the lawyer, "but he might be brought in to 損失 your character. However there seems no 証拠 that he did more than deceive you."

"How—deceive me? You mean about his 指名する?"

"That—and I suppose you didn't know he had rooms on the 堤防 where he lived with—さまざまな unfortunates such as you must have come across in your chapel work."

"I don't understand."

"No—this scamp 完全に took you in. He rented your house evidently for a decent 演説（する）／住所 and a room for 絵, he did not reside there."

"But these—unfortunates, Mr. Southey?"

"Wretched women of no consequence. The last was a 確かな Jenny or Dolly Feathers—he spent a good 取引，協定 of money on her, but 砂漠d her suddenly and the police are 満足させるd she knows nothing about him."

"How disgusting," said Mrs. Sacret mechanically. "But I also know nothing about this man. He told me he was going abroad—he had finished some （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限 in the country—I thought no more of it."

"やめる so. As a 未亡人—and one with some experience of the world through your missionary work—you would not be likely to be attracted by this rascal."

"How simple it sounds, やめる a usual tale for the police, I suppose—"

"やめる, there is no mystery about these scoundrels, my dear Mrs. Sacret, they would not find any 犠牲者s did not these prefer not to ask questions. Foolish, inexperienced women who, romantic or sentimental, are easily gulled are the only prey men like this painter can hope for. No 疑問 he tried no trick on you because he saw you were shrewd. He is of no importance as long as you are 用意が出来ている to be cross-questioned about him." The lawyer paused. To Mrs. Sacret's maddened ちらりと見ること, he 似ているd, in a horrible fashion, the dead man, sandy red hair and whiskers, greenish 注目する，もくろむs with straw-colored 攻撃するs. Rising, at last—the interview had seemed an eternity to Mrs. Sacret—he asked casually: "What did you do with the diamond bracelet Susan Rue gave you?"

"It was a gift for charity—to be sold for missionary work in Jamaica."

"You could 証明する that?"

"Yes, of course. Oh, I don't know! It was given 個人として to help a 使節団 where my husband had been—"

"And the money—現在のs you received from Mrs. Rue?"

"Must I account for them? They have been 大いに 誇張するd. I was her almoner for さまざまな charities."

"I see." Mr. Southey looked 負かす／撃墜する at his fingers. "Did you leave any 所有物／資産／財産 at Minton Street, besides the furniture—and 着せる／賦与するs for instance?"

"I may have done so."

"Because the woman Feathers has shown the police a handsome dress given her by the man Andrews—that is probably his real 指名する—that Curtis has identified as one of yours."

"Then he stole it. While he was away in the country I took a trunkful of things to Minton Street and left them in the upper room that I knew he never used. He gave 許可—"

"You had a 重要な?"

"Yes."

"Have you looked to see if the trunk is still there?"

"No—I have been too 完全に 吸収するd in poor Susan's 事件／事情／状勢s; as you know, we went at once to Brighton."

"I understand, that will do. Pray be careful to remember all we have discussed."

"Yes," she said again as she rose and held の上に the 支援する of her 議長，司会を務める, then she 追加するd: "Susan is 支払う／賃金ing you, is she not?"

Mr. Southey frowned.

"I believe that Mrs. Rue is 責任がある your 合法的な expenses."

Mrs. Sacret broke into a shocking burst of laughter, then was suddenly silent and left the room, leaving the lawyer to find his own way out of the Old Priory.

ｧ 46

Mrs. Sacret's mind was now 活発に in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of her emotions, even of her most 熱烈な emotion of 恐れる; she was thinking 明確に and cleverly of how to escape from the terrible position in which she so suddenly had 設立する herself. She had not time even for contempt of her own past, even for 憎悪 of 示す Bellis. That was a sordid episode. She had been fooled and robbed by a cheap adventurer, a mean 犯罪の, and without the excuse of passion or love. He had 単に fascinated her, played on her craving for 慰安 and 高級な, flattered her, given her glimpses of a fairy tale life—bewitched her, yes that was the word, and all the time he had been living with one of those 哀れな creatures she had been taught to consider "fallen women." She 解任するd the gossip of the neighbors about girls going to Minton Street and the fool she had made of herself in thinking she had seen her 二塁打, when it had been this slut Feathers, wearing her stolen 着せる／賦与するs, taken from the luggage she had ゆだねるd to him.

But she must not think of that, but of her 現在の jeopardy. It filled her with terror to realize what a stupid ignorant woman she was, when she had felt so sure of herself, had so complacently enjoyed her 力／強力にする over others. She had truly lived in a fool's 楽園. Yes, a fool, and now she would have to use all her wits if she were not to 会合，会う the usual 運命／宿命 of folly.

Physical sickness 攻撃する，非難するd her, she 戦う／戦いd with a terrible 恐れる of violent illness that would （判決などを）下す her incapable of defending herself. There was no one to 保護する her, save Mr. Southey, paid by Susan whom he was trying to 廃虚 and destroy.

The painter was in Australia now, lost under another 指名する, spending her money with another woman. She must not dare to think of him, she did not 悔いる him and his golden 約束s, she was too terrified, too 吸収するd in her own danger.

Reviewing this she saw that Susan was in even deeper 危険，危なくする. Everything pointed to Susan. Mr. Southey had said as much, and she had tried to help him—with lies. Could one save oneself with lies?

She went 猛烈に over the 事例／患者. The 関係 of Blair, the groom, with the 毒（薬） and Sir John was fortunate after all. Lucky, too, that the large sum of ready money had been guessed to be for an elopement, Susan would never tell the truth there. She began to be 感謝する for Mr. Southey's 控えめの promptings—the 事件／事情／状勢 of the painter, the bracelet, her 影響（力） over Susan. She knew now how to pass this all off very 井戸／弁護士席.

No one—not even Curtis had について言及するd the Indian 減少（する）s she had given ツバメ Rue, for no one had 大（公）使館員d any importance to one more draught の中で the many closings indulged in by the master of the Old Priory. If anyone did say anything, she was 安全な, she had carefully kept a little of the 害のない 薬／医学 and she had the 害のない recipe.

Susan had forgotten that last glass she had given her husband on the last night of his life, Susan had been bemused with ワイン, no danger there, Susan would never remember.

Mrs. Sacret, fully 着せる／賦与するd, lay on her bed in the dark, shaken by long shudders. Should she 警告する Susan? Make an 同盟（する） of her? Concoct with her a tale pointing to 自殺? No, Susan was stupid, moral, willing to sacrifice herself—anything but her 評判—from 悔恨. Better leave her alone. She was drinking again, too, and her 冷静な／正味の hard demeanor was often broken by fits of hysterical 涙／ほころびs, she was not to be 信用d! Consider how she had prattled to Curtis—yes, better be 控えめの with Susan. She could be relied on only to be 静かな about the letters.

Mrs. Sacret remembered that the letters had been stolen from her—井戸／弁護士席, they will be no use to him in Australia—then she shivered with 激怒（する） as she considered how useless they were to her, also. Still Susan need never know that she had no longer got them—but the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that was in them?

Supposing that were given in open 法廷，裁判所, would it not almost decide the 事例／患者 against Susan?

But I won't give her away if I can help it—my 持つ／拘留する on her is my only means of a living.

ｧ 47

Sir Matthew Falkland's 成果／努力s to direct 疑惑 の上に the companion paled before the 成果／努力s of the 弁護士／代理人／検事 general, Mr. Southey, and Mr. Lampton, 代表するing Mrs. George Rue, to put 疑惑 on the wife; with or without her companion as her 共犯者. Susan, in her florid, rather childish beauty and her modest 嘆く／悼むing, her obvious grief and 誠実, made a good personal impression. But her story was not such as was calculated to 勝利，勝つ her the sympathy of the 陪審／陪審員団 or the public. She was rich, idle, pampered, she had had two husbands and been "talked of" with a married man. She was childless, useless, silly, she was a secret drinker, she had been under the 影響（力） of ワイン when her husband was dying.

Her excuses were poor, though given with dignity. She 辞退するd to say why she had suddenly raised a large sum of money and taken her emeralds out of the bank or what she had done with them, she had been a good mistress and Curtis was 充てるd to her, but 非，不，無 of her servants could disguise the wretchedness of her married life. It was （疑いを）晴らす that she had 受託するd ツバメ Rue 単に to save herself from the スキャンダル she had created with Sir John Curle, then, when her former lover was 解放する／自由な, she had 圧力（をかける）d for a 離婚.

Her mother-in-法律, speaking in a 冷淡な, almost casual fashion, gave her the worst of characters, and Mrs. George Rue was the sort of 厳しい, 井戸／弁護士席-placed, immaculate woman whose word carried 負わせる with the 大多数. Then Sir John Curle, at his 願望（する）, carne into the 証言，証人／目撃する box and Mrs. Sacret, sitting 冷淡な and terrified in the 団体／死体 of the 法廷，裁判所; learned that others besides herself could 嘘（をつく）—and on 誓い.

Sir John, with a 納得させるing 空気／公表する of 静かな dignity, said that he had been 栄誉（を受ける）d by the friendship of Mrs. Susan Dasent, as she had been, and had advised her, a young 未亡人, about her 投資s. She had been most 肉親，親類d to Lady Curle, who had taken a 広大な／多数の／重要な liking to her and whom she used often to visit. There had been a small 量 of spiteful gossip—簡単に because Mrs. Dasent was young, beautiful and vivacious. She had done nothing indiscreet. But because of this they had parted on her second marriage and not seen one another since. Mrs. Rue had written to him once only, a formal 弔慰 on the death of his wife. Questioned as to the visit of Mrs. Sacret to his 議会s, Sir John said she had come on に代わって of some of the charities with which he was connected; he had been かなり surprised when he heard she was Mrs. Rue's companion. He had not known of her 存在 or seen or heard from her since. Questioned as to the man Blair and the 購入（する） of 毒（薬）, he said he knew nothing about the latter. Blair was a good servant and he had taken him 支援する after Mr. Rue's death; it was likely that a groom wishing to 購入（する） horse 薬／医学 would use the convenience of a former master's 許す—his, Sir John's, 指名する was known at the 化学者／薬剤師's, who would readily give the 毒（薬） and enter it in his 調書をとる／予約する, when they might not have known the 指名する of Rue.

Here Mr. Dance, 代表するing Sir John, put in that this 事柄 of Blair was 完全に irrelevant, anyone could have 設立する tartar emetic in any stable, the 問題／発行する was 存在 不公平に raised to connect the 指名する of Sir John with the 毒（薬） that had killed ツバメ Rue. The baronet descended from the 証言，証人／目撃する box unshaken in his 耐えるing and having made a 都合のよい impression of a 静かな, honest gentleman telling the truth and having come 今後 of his own （許可，名誉などを）与える to save a woman's 指名する.

His unromantic 外見 and manner helped belief in his 声明s. He did not look or sound the manner of man who would be, under any 条件s, the ardent lover of a woman as young, beautiful and rich as Susan Rue.

The results of the 裁判，公判 were beginning to move in 好意 of the unhappy 未亡人 when her dignified 静める was broken by an 爆発 in 法廷，裁判所 that won her popular 好意.

Goaded by the merciless cross-examination of Cecil Lampton, counsel for her worst enemy, Mrs. George Rue, as to her relations with Sir John Curle, she suddenly 中止するd her 静かな 手段d replies and made a frantic 控訴，上告 to the 検死官 for 保護.

"I have not been a faithless wife," she 宣言するd passionately. "My husband and I would not agree on many 支配するs and I asked him to 解放（する） me—there was no happiness for either of us, 非，不，無—but that is not a 罪，犯罪—離婚 is not a 罪，犯罪, it is 許すd. It is true I had a dear friend in Sir John Curle, but I never approached him after my second marriage, never once. I am sure, from the 証拠 of Mrs. Sacret, that my husband 毒（薬）d himself with some of that stuff he got from the stables and I am 激しく remorseful, for I believe our quarrels led to this and so I have borne 根気よく this turning over of my 私的な life in public. But what has all this raking over of a woman's 事件／事情／状勢s 量d to? My mother-in-法律 dislikes me for taking her only son from her—would to God I had not done so!—but can she find any 罪，犯罪 to fasten on me? No. The worst you have 軍隊d out of my servants is that I drank too much sherry. It is true. Desperate people do take the 平易な way to forgetfulness, and I don't 否定する it, or even 約束 改革（する）—considering what my life is likely to be after this, I'll have little to keep me from drink. But I do entreat, sir, you will keep these gentlemen from 拷問ing me into a 自白 that I was an unfaithful wife, thus making Sir John the どろぼう of another's peace, and my husband a deceived wretch—it is not fair to either of these men, and what is the 反対する? To 証明する that I 殺人d my husband. I am on 誓い, I have sworn before God—before God I am innocent."

Susan 配達するd this speech more 速く than the eager newspaper reporters could take it 負かす／撃墜する, nor was she interrupted. The spectacle of this beautiful, rich young woman 自白するing she had been driven to drink through the 悲惨 of her married life, and her 言及／関連 to her empty, blighted 未来, turned even the cynics in her 好意; she spoke so 心から, so modestly, with such anguish that there was 非，不，無 there who believed her either an adulteress or a murderess, the two most atrocious 肩書を与えるs that a woman could be given. Then her 青年, for にもかかわらず her 苦しめる, her 外見 was that of a girl, 誘発するd compassion in all the men, and 寛容 even の中で the women, いっそう少なく likely to be 混乱させるd by feminine charm.

People asked themselves what sort of 存在 this 豊富な, generous, lovely creature must have led with such a man as the 証拠 had 明らかにする／漏らすd ツバメ Rue to have been, jealous, peevish, fault finding, dull, keeping his wife 限定するd to the house or 独房監禁 運動s, while he indulged in lonely hobbies, his 温室 and his 薬／医学 chest. Besides there was his mother, respectable doubtless, her 証言 carrying 広大な／多数の／重要な 負わせる—but she might have made things very hard for the 有望な, gay creature she disliked.

The 検死官 spoke to Mr. Southey, the 弁護士／代理人／検事 general and Mr. Lampton, after 協議 with the 合法的な assessor who sat with him, and advised them that the 法廷，裁判所 was sitting not to 問い合わせ into the morals of Mrs. ツバメ Rue, but how the antimony got into her husband's 団体／死体. Sir Matthew Falkland 発射 a ちらりと見ること of congratulation at Susan who did not even notice it, and, at the first 適切な時期, 解任するd John Blair. その上の cross-診察するd the groom 宣言するd that never in his knowledge had Mrs. ツバメ Rue gone to the stables, she had no 利益／興味 in the horses, she was 肉親，親類d to him, Blair, and to the other menservants, continually sending them and their wives gifts and money. Mr. Rue was a mean, censorious master; it was because he would not 支払う／賃金 for the horse 薬／医学 nor open an account with a 化学者／薬剤師, that Blair bought it from the shop he had 以前は dealt with, Sir John Curle's, 支払う／賃金ing for it out of his own 給料. Mrs. Rue's 現在のs made that equal.

No, Mrs. Rue had not been aware of this 購入（する） nor of anything to do with the stables. Yes, Mr. Rue did visit them, and on the day before his death, to complain about the 開始するs given him to ride, he was very unpleasant and complained of the cost of the stables; he was thrown because he was a bad rider, "one of those gentlemen who can't learn." He kept the stables because of his wife, before he married he used a 雇うd cab and his mother a 雇うd carriage. He did go alone into the empty 立ち往生させる where the 薬／医学 cupboard, harness and some gardening 道具s were; he went to complain, as Blair knew, so he slipped away and left him there, he might have been alone there five minutes—"poking about," when he carne out he 不平（をいう）d at "the 明言する／公表する the place was in."

Blair had never connected his master's death with the 瓶／封じ込める of 薬／医学 in the stables. He had seen the 瓶／封じ込める when he tidied the stables after Mr. Rue's （民事の）告訴 and had never thought of it again until he had 設立する it when （疑いを）晴らすing up to leave and had thrown it away with other litter. He had used a good 取引，協定 of it, no he could not tell if it had been tampered with. Sir Matthew Falkland had now 設立するd a picture of a generous mistress who never "干渉するd," of a man alone in the stables with a 瓶／封じ込める labeled POISON 星／主役にするing at him, a man ignorant of farriery. Might he not, in his wretched 明言する／公表する, have snatched at it, not knowing it was antimony and swallowed it in despair? By this time Sir Matthew seemed to have dropped his 疑惑 of Mrs. Sacret, but the 弁護士／代理人／検事 general asked Blair if the companion had ever been seen in the stables, and though the man said "no"—it was 証明するd from his 証拠 that the stables were often empty and "anyone could have gone there."

ｧ 48

Mrs. Sacret asked to see Mr. Southey in one of the 私的な rooms of the hotel.

"Everything is going in her 好意. I thought that 爆発 so silly and ill bred!"

"本物の feeling often sounds both to the 冷淡な heart, Mrs. Sacret, but she moved the 法廷，裁判所. I think she is innocent."

Olivia Sacret 設立する this 声明 impossible to 耐える. Not only had she been 軍隊d to sit in 法廷，裁判所 and hear Sir John Curle, with his 効果的な 空気／公表する of an honorable gentleman, lying on 誓い, but had been 軍隊d to listen to Susan ranting for "保護" as if she were a good woman, then to the groom's 証拠 存在 新たな展開d around so that Susan's character was （疑いを）晴らすd—and now her own lawyer, the man paid to defend her, was 宣言するing the 事例／患者 was going in Susan's 好意, and that he. Mrs. Sacret's man, believed her "innocent."

単に because Susan had a pretty 直面する, baby ways and money to throw about she always escaped even 非難. Why, it looked as if she would leave this 法廷，裁判所 almost in a 炎 of glory.

Mrs. Sacret's hazel 注目する，もくろむs shone 危険に beneath her lowered lids as she asked demurely: "Didn't you say, the いっそう少なく danger for her, the more for me?"

"Yes, I did, but the 事例／患者 has changed—you are not 存在 brought in so much—"

"I should hope not!" exclaimed Mrs. Sacret indignantly. "But you said I was, and gave me a horrid fright, made me やめる ill—I'm relieved you think it absurd. What 推論する／理由 had I, a poor 未亡人 keeping Mrs. Rue company, to do with the making away of Mr. Rue—compared to her 動機, she 固執するing for a 離婚 and in love with another man?"

"Personality counts with a 陪審／陪審員団. Mrs. Rue is amiable, she doesn't seem in the least like a woman to （打撃，刑罰などを）与える a horrible death on another."

"She might not have known the 毒（薬） wasn't painless—"

"That would be true of Mrs. Rue, or anyone else," replied Mr.

Southey, giving his （弁護士の）依頼人 a sharp look.

"She had the strongest 動機 of anyone, and I think it should be brought home to her—"

"Do you? I don't believe her 有罪の—"

"She is," broke in Mrs. Sacret. "I know it."

He was plainly startled behind his 合法的な manner.

"Explain yourself," he said curtly. "You should have spoken before."

"I did not want to give her away, but I can't be 推定する／予想するd to 直面する a 殺人 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 on her に代わって—"

"Please tell me plainly what you know."

"She was Sir John's mistress."

"You have proof?"

"Letters—her 自白, his 自白."

"証言，証人／目撃するs to these 自白s?"

"No."

"What are these letters?"

"She wrote them to me about three years ago—they gave an account of this—intrigue."

"Where are they now?"

"安全な enough."

"Don't 避ける me. Can you produce them?"

"No. I was so sorry for her I destroyed them."

"Then," said Mr. Southey 静かに, "you have no proof of anything."

"No, but if Susan was questioned about these letters she would break 負かす／撃墜する and give herself away."

"Sir Matthew would see to that. Three years old, you say? Then Mrs. Rue had not married a second time—she was a 未亡人?"

"Yes."

"Have you any 疑惑 that this intrigue was carried on after the second marriage?"

"I don't know, I'm sure."

"I think you do. I believe it could be 証明するd that Sir John and Mrs. Rue never met."

"Even so," exclaimed Mrs. Sacret 怒って, "would it not destroy her credit with the 陪審／陪審員団 and point to her as the 犯罪の, if it were 証明するd that she and Sir John committed 偽証 and that they were lovers?"

"It certainly might, but it would be difficult to 証明する."

"There must be people who know, places where they stayed—servants, who are always 秘かに調査するing and watching," said Mrs. Sacret 熱心に. "And I know, she 自白するd to me, she won't 否定する it, and then I'll 断言する to the letters, I know them by heart."

"Better not," advised Mr. Southey dryly. "It will put you in a bad light. And it doesn't 証明する that she 殺人d her husband—you said you knew she was 有罪の, you don't, only that she was Sir John Curle's mistress between her marriages, and there is only your word for that."

"Certainly to look at him you'd never think it," she retorted はっきりと. "So ordinary!"

Mr. Southey smiled. "You don't know much of the world, Mrs. Sacret, you really have no experience at all, you might make a bad mistake some day, by 存在 so complacently sure of yourself when you know nothing."

Mrs. Sacret smiled also, she could afford to 扱う／治療する this cocksure lawyer's advice with contempt.

"So much for her 空気／公表する of innocence, anyway."

"So much," repeated Mr. Southey. "She swore that she was not a faithless wife, I believe it is true—"

"Then I'll 断言する to what she was—"

"Not unless you want me to throw up your 事例／患者. This is not a 裁判，公判, the 証言，証人／目撃するs come and go as counsel please, and there are a large number of counsel. There will be no 演説（する）／住所s to the 陪審／陪審員団 and the 検死官 in his summing up cannot hope to compete with a 裁判官. A 広大な／多数の／重要な 集まり of 詳細（に述べる） that has nothing to do with the 問題／発行する has been introduced, and the 混乱 is such I don't think that any 陪審／陪審員団 would 罪人／有罪を宣告する anyone—so you can spare your friend's 評判—and your own."

Mrs. Sacret, having vented her sense of 不正 at her lawyer's 賞賛する of Susan, now recollected that if she could 保存する her secret while 安全な・保証するing her own safety it would be 井戸／弁護士席 for her as regards the 未来—when Mr. Southey 発言／述べるd, "Will you 許す me to see those letters?"

"I cannot do so—I destroyed them."

"I do not believe that, Mrs. Sacret, for it is （疑いを）晴らす that Sir Matthew was 権利 in his hint—you 得るd your 地盤 in the Old Priory by means of those letters."

As she began to 抗議する, he raised his 手渡す with an 空気／公表する of 当局. "Sir Matthew did not 指名する the letters, he 示唆するd ゆすり，恐喝. It is so obvious, after your 自白."

"My 自白! I spoke of Susan's 自白—"

"Implicit in that was your own admission of ゆすり，恐喝. Only 恐れる of a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of 殺人 軍隊d you to wish to 明言する／公表する the 存在 of these letters. You ーするつもりであるd to 持つ／拘留する them over Mrs. Rue in the 未来. She is so 確信して of that that she does not 恐れる your 発覚—that it is so much in your 利益／興味 not to make. Therefore, Mrs. Sacret, I do not believe that you have destroyed these letters that must have been your most precious 所有／入手."

"I did—she begged me to do so, and I did."

At that moment Mrs. Sacret hated the painter and his tawdry deceptions, so ardently did she wish she could show Mr. Southey that packet of letters, not only from an 直感的に, jealous wish to lower Susan from her 誤った 態度 of innocence, but because of her 深い-seated 恐れる for herself. She 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 説得する Mr. Southey that Susan had every 原因（となる） to 殺人 her husband in her wish to return to the man of whom she had written so passionately. Mr. Southey changed his 策略. She was used to that from watching the 合法的な fray at the 調査, and ready for him.

"Did you tell Mr. Rue of these letters?"

"I hinted at something of the 肉親，親類d—I was trying to do Susan a service, I thought he might be so disgusted that he would give her the 離婚."

"But he 辞退するd to believe anything against her?"

Mrs. Sacret was astonished and 悩ますd.

"Oh, he did, yes—but I don't know how you guessed."

"論理（学）の deduction, Mrs. Sacret. Here was a man 充てるd to his wife, keeping her against her will, he did not want any excuse for 解放（する）ing her. He must have hated you."

"I don't think so," replied the 用心深い young woman. "He was always civil—he gave me one of his precious flowers once—puce and scarlet, he said it was like me."

"All the same, he 主張するd on your 解雇／（訴訟の）却下. Nov Mrs. Sacret, pray let me see the letters. Remember you cannot 説得する me you destroyed them."

"I did."

"Remember Mrs. Rue can be asked if she thinks these letters destroyed—if she does so think, why should she keep you? 明白に she doesn't like you."

Mrs. Sacret 滞るd and lied too quickly.

"井戸／弁護士席, then—she doesn't know I've destroyed them—"

"Yet, it was done out of 親切 to her? Come, now, Mrs. Sacret, this is too 天然のまま—"

"They were stolen—why do you torment me like this?"

"Where?"

She lied wildly. "I had them in a reticule and left it behind in a shop—I could never trace them—as Susan doesn't know, it doesn't 事柄. Do pray, 解任する you are my lawyer, and think of my 事件／事情／状勢s."

"I am 簡潔な／要約するd as counsel to watch your 利益／興味s in this 調査. I am doing that. I have only a few more questions to ask. Did Mrs. George Rue know of these letters?"

"She was vulgar enough to guess at something of the sort—but she got nothing from me."

"I see. Now the large sum of money and the emeralds Mrs. Rue raised so quickly and that were brought to her a few hours before her husband's death. Were they not for you?"

"No," said Mrs. Sacret at once. This was 証拠 against Susan that she could not afford to throw away. "It was just a little 事柄 between Susan and myself—I used to tease her about the letters and she gave me little 現在のs, nothing much. Of course that money was for her elopement." a "Absurd. Had she 熟視する／熟考するd anything so mad as eloping so soon after her husband's violent death her lover would have 供給（する）d the money. Besides, as a 豊富な woman she could have changed a check easily, anywhere."

"I did not have it," smiled Mrs. Sacret. She was relieved that he did not 圧力（をかける） this point nor go into her thin story about the loss of the letters, but he opened another hardly more welcome.

"Mrs. Dasent, as she was then, wrote to you, a missionary's wife, letters definitely 明言する／公表するing she was the mistress of a married man, and you did nothing, you even continued the friendship?"

Mrs. Sacret's smile brightened. After all, the convenient truth would serve here.

"I was so innocent myself I thought the letters 害のない, that was the word I always used. Then, three years after, when visiting Susan she showed such fright, she 申し込む／申し出d such 賄賂s, I guessed—then she 自白するd."

"But not before 証言，証人／目撃するs, and if the letters are so あいまいな, she has nothing to be afraid of."

"But she is afraid. She is 有罪の. 税金 her with it, 税金 Sir John."

"I've said—I do not think that would be wise, you might not be believed as you have no proof and you would lose sympathy. She might not break 負かす／撃墜する, nor might he—such a thing can't be wrung out of a gentleman—"

"Even on 誓い?" sneered Mrs. Sacret.

"Even on 誓い," he repeated 厳粛に, then he 速く changed the 支配する. "The servants at the Old Priory say you had a very handsome wardrobe—but Curtis says that when you went to Brighton you had but the one gown and no luggage. Mrs. Rue bought you a second outfit—how do you account for that?"

"My 着せる／賦与するs were stolen from Minton Street, you told me, Mr. Southey, and that horrid slut was wearing some of 地雷."

"Yes, I told you—but you did not know—"

"Oh, of course not! But I had packed all my luggage and had it sent to Minton Street—and it did not seem 価値（がある） while sending for it, so Susan bought me new things."

Even to herself this sounded feeble, but Mr. Southey passed it, 単に 発言／述べるing: "Then your tenant, who must have kept a 重要な, went 支援する to your house and ライフル銃／探して盗むd your trunks?"

"I suppose so. It is dreadful—I must go and see what has happened—how much I have lost—"

"You have not been?"

"Is it likely! With all this horrible 苦悩!"

"Some of your neighbors say you were seen there while living at Brighton."

"What nonsense! Those low gossips will say anything!"

Mr. Southey did not 追求する any of these lines of 調査 and rose, as if he, not Mrs. Sacret, had sought the interview. She also was quickly on her feet, 発言／述べるing:

"I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to give you a 価値のある piece of 証拠 but not only do you 辞退する to use it, you 支配する me to a long examination on trivial 支配するs—I do 宣言する I don't think much of the 合法的な mind."

What he next said made her think even いっそう少なく, for pausing at the door, he asked:

"You were annoyed at the thought of Sir John Curie in the 役割 of a lover, what do you consider a romantic type of man?"

Mrs. Sacret 隠すd her contempt, no 疑問 this ugly lawyer was angling clumsily for a compliment.

"Not Sir John, nondescript and middle 老年の," she answered 滑らかに. "Not my poor husband, that was a marriage of high 原則s, we felt 奮起させるd to do God's work in Jamaica—not Mr. Rue."

She 述べるd him 熱心に, in the points where he 似ているd the lawyer. "Sand-colored hair, white 攻撃するs, gooseberry 注目する，もくろむs, ugh! Not any man in 法廷，裁判所, I think—"

Mr. Southey smiled.

"It helps me in my profession to know the ladies' taste—you 港／避難所't について言及するd a dark-haired, 黒人／ボイコット-注目する，もくろむd or gray-注目する，もくろむd fellow, straight features, a little gold—not sand—over him, rather pale, but looks open 空気／公表する—elegant, tall, graceful manners—now would you consider that a romantic type?"

"Any woman would."

"Just so. That is what I thought, any woman would."

"But—what nonsense, when we were talking so 本気で. I must remind you to keep my 信用／信任—as I may not speak in 法廷，裁判所 about the letters, I do not 願望（する） their 存在 to be known."

"You must rely on my discretion, Mrs. Sacret." He 屈服するd and withdrew.

ｧ 49

Mrs. Sacret 設立する Curtis in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 at the Old Priory, Susan was in bed, with Dr. Virtue and a nurse in 出席. "They've killed her, the poor soul," muttered the maid 激しく as she waited at Mrs. Sacret's elegant supper. "Those lawyers have no pity, no decency even, why not much sense either, why she wouldn't 傷つける a 飛行機で行く, as the 説 is."

"I daresay," retorted Mrs. Sacret dryly, "but all the 証拠 points to her—she had the 動機 and the 適切な時期—and a 広大な／多数の／重要な 誘惑."

"A good thing, wasn't it, ma'am, that the poor gentleman 自白するd to you it was 自殺?"

"Yes—but he might have done it to 保護物，者 her, he was that sort of fool." Mrs. Sacret felt mistress of herself again, more, mistress of other people, her appalling fright that had made her feel helpless and stupid had passed. Now that she no longer was in danger she 再開するd her 静かな, smiling 空気／公表する of 当局, acquired during her chapel work, and in particular in Jamaica where she had queened it over the Negroes. Her 小衝突 with Mr. Southey had 刺激するd her; it did not 事柄, she 反映するd as she sipped her Burgundy, that she had had to 自白する about the letters, the lawyer had made very little of that, and his advice to 隠す the fact of their loss ふさわしい her very 井戸／弁護士席, Of course he would tell no one about them—why should he? He was her lawyer and sworn to secrecy, besides he believed them destroyed—they were in Australia, almost the same thing. She felt that she had more than matched him, she had やめる shaken him off about the painter, she had impressed him as a decorous, shrewd 未亡人 who would never be taken in by an adventurer. And 一方／合間, she was wondering if she could 得る 十分な money from Susan for a visit to Australia. She thought of Susan with contempt—that vulgar 突発／発生 in 法廷，裁判所—and now 崩壊（する）! Of course she had been drinking again.

"Do you lock up the ワイン?" she asked Curtis 厳しく, "Poor Mr. Rue would be very worried about this illness—you know やめる 井戸／弁護士席 what it is."

"That's Dr. Virtue's 商売／仕事, ma'am. If the mistress do take a 減少（する） now and then—what's the wonder? 疫病／悩ますd day after day by those 汚い lawyers—and then pretty 井戸／弁護士席 （刑事）被告 of 殺人!"

"Oh, she was not! It is the 商売／仕事 of the counsel to try to get at the truth."

"Why don't they take your word?" interrupted Curtis rudely. "The master told you it was 自殺, and a missionary's 未亡人 せねばならない be believed."

Mrs. Sacret felt comfortable, she moved to the 平易な 議長，司会を務める by the window, the night 空気／公表する was 甘い, and a few neglected roses and 在庫／株s gave out a faint perfume, the trees, ragged by day, were pleasing in 輪郭（を描く） against a moonlit sky, a summer warmth 侵入するd the gown of 黒人／ボイコット 検討する，考慮する that she wore. She looked at Curtis （疑いを）晴らすing away the elegant 任命s of her rich meal, and said gently, like a cat patting a mouse, "You are very sure of your mistress' innocence, aren't you, Curtis?"

"Of course I am," the servant ゆらめくd up. "She didn't 毒（薬） him, and she wasn't unfaithful to him either. I'd have known if there'd been anything of that sort, but there wasn't—open as the day she was, never locked a box."

"Then you don't think she was planning to elope?"

"Of course not," retorted the servant again, with even deeper 軽蔑（する）, "If he'd have let her go, fair and square, she'd have gone and thankful, but she isn't the lady to do anything underhand, open and timid, and afraid of the neighbors' talk, and warmhearted. Too good for him, that's what she was, a 汚い, mean fellow, always pretending to be sick and crying out for his horrid old mother."

"She shouldn't have married him."

"Oh, no! And he pester, pester, and she heartbroken because Sir John was married! As if she guessed the 肉親，親類d Mr. Rue was! She's the sort of lady who thinks every man's a gentleman."

"井戸／弁護士席, then, Curtis, why do you suppose she raised that money so quickly—and 内密に got the jewels from the bank?"

"She gave them to you," replied Curtis at once, "either because of some tale of ill luck you'd told her, or because of something you were 持つ／拘留するing over her, the poor dear."

"How absurd. And what do you imagine I could be 持つ／拘留するing over your virtuous mistress?"

"I don't know. But she's one as gives her 信用／信任 平易な and careless, and 信用ing, and simple in a way. Look how she took to heart her husband's death—and he nothing but a 疫病／悩ます to her."

"Kitchen gossip," smiled Mrs. Sacret, 小衝突ing aside a night moth that had ぱたぱたするd in from the garden.

"No—but if it were, it's in the kitchen you'll hear the truth of most families. But here, and in all the 状況／情勢s I've been used to, we say the servants' hall, ma'am."

Mrs. Sacret was angry; she frequently made these small mistakes, though she tried to be so careful. 怒って she reminded herself of her father's good birth. Curtis did not 許す her time to reply, standing 築く by the baize-lined tray on which she had collected the silver in a white napkin she 追加するd: "I've lived の近くに to you ever since you （機の）カム to the Old Priory, and I know you pretty 井戸／弁護士席, ma'am, and that you had a 持つ／拘留する on the mistress, for she disliked you as much as it was in her nature to dislike anyone."

Mrs. Sacret had opened this conversation with the 意向 of rebuking Curtis and did not ーするつもりである to be distracted. "You have been most insolent in 法廷，裁判所," she 発言／述べるd coolly. "You are 保護するd there, and I daresay that a servant relishes the chance of 陳列する，発揮するing vulgar spite, but your 行為 will be remembered after this 事例／患者 is の近くにd."

The maid's thin, worried 直面する 紅潮／摘発するd. She moved out of the circle of lamplight, but answered 堅固に, "I took my Bible 誓い. And I answered all questions truthfully."

"You showed you had 秘かに調査するd and こそこそ動くd—how （機の）カム you to notice my green and crimson dress?"

"Anyone would. It was so overdone—and for your 駅／配置する."

"Need you have said it was 地雷 when one of the lawyers, I suppose it was, showed it you?"

"It was the police, 探偵，刑事 Precious," said Curtis tartly. "I didn't know where he 設立する the dress, but when he showed me that 装備する-out I knew it at once, and said so—I'm not going to monkey with the police."

"I suppose the police were called in because I had a 強盗," replied Mrs. Sacret. "Anyhow it was no 商売／仕事 of yours—and how 調査するing you must have been to notice I had only one dress when I （機の）カム to Brighton!"

"Anyone would have noticed—after seeing all those 罰金 着せる／賦与するs the mistress bought for you, from her own dressmaker, and the 洗面所 始める，決めるs and gloves and shoes." Curtis drew an angry breath then continued, "and the handsome trunks—then you with nothing, and instead of sending for your things—wherever they were, you stayed on, month after month, at Brighton, letting my mistress buy you everything over again."

"I was robbed—that is what servants—uneducated people—do, make a mystery about nothing. You tried your best, Curtis, to make me appear an evil woman."

"If evil has been done, sooner you than the mistress," replied Curtis sullenly. "I don't pretend I like you. I'll tell you to your 直面する what I said 公然と—you're only ladylike, not a lady, you 港／避難所't been brought up as one, you 港／避難所't a lady's instincts—and there's ladies' instincts like there is gentlemen's."

"やめる a speech," smiled Mrs. Sacret, "and all it means is that poor, meek Mrs. Rue spoiled you very much and that you resented my noticing your waste and extravagance—and insolence. You're 存在 無分別な, aren't you? You say that I have an 影響（力） over your mistress—井戸／弁護士席, I shall certainly use it to 勧める your 解雇／（訴訟の）却下."

"She would never part with me—for the little time she has," replied Curtis 突然の and left the room with the tray of silver.

"Sentimental fool," thought Mrs. Sacret. "Susan will live to be eighty—and marry again within the year, if not Sir John, then someone else."

Another maid （機の）カム in to finish （疑いを）晴らすing the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and to 削減する the lamp, and Mrs. Sacret remained comfortable at the window. Her escape from danger was so 最近の she was not 有能な of 反映するing on the wretched ending of her delicious friendship with the painter, she was too 吸収するd in realizing that the terrible 危険，危なくする that Mr. Southey had pointed out to her, a few days ago, was past.

She was わずかに worried over the loss of her trunks; of course her neighbors had seen her bring them to Minton Street, and the painter fetch them away; that would pass very 井戸／弁護士席, he had stolen them (this was the truth) but she could not 解任する the dates and 恐れるd they did not fit together. Surely—of course—the trunks had been taken before she left the Old Priory? She could cover all that up, but there was not likely to be any その上の 調査s over anything so trivial. This について言及する of the police had been startling, but, of course, police 同様に as lawyers were 雇うd on a 事例／患者 like this. She wished that she knew more of the 法律. It seemed reasonable that the police should look into her antecedents—she was glad if they had done so, her 記録，記録的な／記録する was so spotless—and so, of course, they would come on her tenant, and through him the horrible creature Feathers. But why had they shown the dress to Curtis? They must have been sure it was stolen 所有物／資産／財産 and guessed—when they 設立する the man had left the country—that it was part of a 運ぶ／漁獲高 from Minton Street, but why didn't they show it to her, instead of to the servant? Mrs. Sacret could not understand this, nor why the 衣料品s had not been returned to her, nor why the police had not made a hue and cry over the trunks. But she supposed they had let it all 減少（する） as the 犯罪の had escaped and the whole 商売／仕事 had nothing to do with the Rue 事例／患者, certainly it had never been について言及するd in 法廷，裁判所. Mrs. Sacret could only suppose that the police—this man, Precious—had guessed the dress belonged to her and had gone to Mr. Southey, her lawyer, and he had said she was not to be 乱すd while the 事例／患者 was on. Yes, that was it, and it was only through the carelessness of Mr. Southey (she considered him a stupid man) and the spite of Curtis (she forgot she had questioned her) that this silly 事件／事情／状勢 about the dress had come to her ears.

ｧ 50

The sensational second 調査 into the death of ツバメ Rue began to lose the public 利益／興味. There was nothing sensational about it after Susan Rue's 爆発.

Mrs. Sacret did not need to save herself by 明らかにする／漏らすing what she 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d, 個人として and indignantly, Susan's "有罪の secret."

The exasperated and bewildered 陪審／陪審員団 did their best to keep level 長，率いるs and open minds but, though 納得させるd of foul play, and as incredulous of the 自殺 theory as the former 陪審／陪審員団 had been credulous, they could not decide on the 身元 of the 犯罪の. The 判決 was "殺人 by some person or persons unknown."

ｧ 51

Susan Rue had 完全にするd her packing, everything was ready for her 出発 from the home where her husband had died. It had already been sold for the value of the ground, for no one wished to reside in the expensive mansion that had been the scene of what still was known as "The Clapham Mystery."

Now that the excitement and the publicity of the second 調査 were over, Mrs. Sacret felt dull and flat, and filled with a 燃やすing 激怒（する） against the painter, now definitely 明らかにする／漏らすd as a commonplace, cheap 犯罪の, 井戸／弁護士席 known to the police. Her deepest 激怒（する） was for her money, her jewels, her 着せる／賦与するs, they formed the 有形の part of her charms. Her feelings toward the man and his 約束s were frozen. She saw him 完全に objectively as vulgar, trivial, not a gentleman. She could not understand why she had ever thought him superior to other men. She had always known that he had told her silly lies, he had really always been, to her, the type who would 略奪する and run away. He had done worse than that—he had nearly put the rope 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her neck.

She checked her thoughts violently—where did that coarse 表現 come from, and how meaningless it was! Of course ツバメ Rue had taken his own life.

Later she knew she would begin to count over the 約束s the painter had made and broken, the hopes he had raised and 爆破d, the low trick with the slut Feathers, and then she might feel 憎悪 or a deadly 悔いる, now she had the 現在の to think of and she dwelt coldly on what good luck she still had. Her escape from the 危険，危なくする Mr. Southey had pointed out, her "持つ／拘留する" (she used that word herself) over Susan.

After all, Susan was 解放する／自由な and very 豊富な, they could go abroad, and maybe she, Olivia Sacret, could find someone as fascinating and more honest than the painter to admire her prim charms. Yet even while she indulged in these hopes, some inner essence of her 存在 was in wild 反乱, remembering that day at Lyndbridge House—all she had lost, lost.

ｧ 52

"Now this 汚い 事件／事情／状勢 is over," smiled Mrs. Sacret, "we must think of ourselves a little—it has been such a 疲労，（軍の）雑役ing time! Brighton won't do now—what about Como or Paris?"

"We are parting," replied Susan Rue, "I do not know where I shall go, but you shall not be with me—I want you to leave this house even before I do."

"All this 苦悩 has turned your 長，率いる, Susan, you know that you cannot be rid of me."

"Mr. Southey told me that you had 自白するd you no longer had the letters," said Susan faintly.

"Oh!" cried Mrs. Sacret, startled into fury. "How could he be so 誤った, and he 料金d to look after my 利益／興味s!"

"So he was. But he 設立する out that you are a wicked woman," murmured Susan with 簡単, "and he told me—for he realized how I was 苦しむing—he said he did not believe that you had destroyed them as you 宣言するd you had, but that it must be out of your 力／強力にする to produce them, or you would have done so."

"You are a fool—I just said that to save you, to deceive Mr. Southey."

"Useless for you to 嘘（をつく）—how would Mr. Southey have known of the letters? He 伝えるd to me that you were eager to save yourself at my expense," Susan sighed, without malice.

Mrs. Sacret could only stammer—"The letters are not destroyed."

"Mr. Southey is a clever man. He read you やめる 井戸／弁護士席. I shall believe what he said, and be at peace on that 得点する／非難する／２０."

Mrs. Sacret was startled and bewildered. She, who was so clever, had thought the lawyer stupid. Susan, so simple, had relied on his judgment.

"At peace," repeated Susan, "from you—not from my dreadful thoughts of how I drove him to it."

"The 判決 said 殺人," Mrs. Sacret reminded her 残酷に.

"No one could have 殺人d him—he went into the stables and saw that 瓶／封じ込める, or more likely it was something in the Indian basket—" Susan's words died away, she made an 成果／努力 and 追加するd, "I am not afraid of you any longer. Please go away."

Terror 後継するd 激怒（する） in Mrs. Sacret's 嵐の heart. "Your best friend," she said, "after all I have done for you—how can you?"

"I don't wish to 運動 you to despair, I shall give you a little money. You have had a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定, but Mr. Southey thinks that you have lost it all."

"How dare this cunning lawyer 裁判官 me!"

"They do 裁判官 people, Olivia, that is what they are trained to do."

"What do you mean by 'a little money'!" exclaimed Mrs. Sacret furiously. "You are very 豊富な—

"I have returned all ツバメ's money to his mother, but it is true that I am rich. I shall give you what Mr. Southey advises."

"Always this wretched lawyer! Remember I could tell a good tale even without the letters, remember what you 自白するd to me—and Sir John also."

"Mr. Southey thinks no one would take any notice of you as you have no proof and that if you defamed me I could bring an 活動／戦闘 for 名誉き損."

To Mrs. Sacret, this was monstrous.

"偽証 is a 罪，犯罪. I know that you and Sir John lied on 誓い. All he swore about that interview with me was 全く 誤った."

"And so was what you swore, I don't 疑問, and 非，不，無 of this will make any difference. Sir John and I will be believed and you won't."

"Why?"

"Because we are respectable people."

Mrs. Sacret laughed furiously, she felt entangled, stifled in a mesh of she knew not what, of the sins and failings of others. Her contempt for Susan and Susan's lover was sincere, so was her 激怒（する） against the painter, her 軽蔑（する） against old Mrs. Rue, against the dead man. She felt herself to have been—to be—the one upright and intelligent person の中で a （人が）群がる of scoundrels and fools. Mr. Southey was 含むd in her pervading wrath—he, who had been paid to defend her, had wormed her secrets out of her and then betrayed her to Susan, thus （判決などを）下すing her one 武器, the letters, useless.

Susan had escaped, Susan was no longer afraid of her. She must realize that hard fact, the central fact of her stripped 存在 now. Susan believed the lawyer, 信用d his wit, his 知恵, would never give any credit to Olivia's hollow 脅しs.

Generosity—a small 年金—then what?

She thought of the portrait done in Minton Street—painted for her to see herself as she was—what was to become of that audacious, comely, 井戸／弁護士席-dressed young woman now? What was to become of the dreamer who had sat in the aristocratic room in Lyndbridge House and longed for the Italian adventure?

"You are no worse off than when you （機の）カム to the Old Priory," said Susan, 観察するing her 静かに. "While between then and now life has been 廃虚d for me."

"Nonsense, how often have I reminded you how unhappy you were then!"

"How often have I replied that then I did not even know what unhappiness was."

Olivia Sacret struggled to keep to realities—her realities.

"How much money are you giving me?"

"The 事件／事情／状勢 is in the 手渡すs of Mr. Southey—he spoke of a hundred a year. You have no （人命などを）奪う，主張する to anything."

Mrs. Sacret thought of Australia, of getting the money for her passage, of searching for the painter there, yet she realized no 活動／戦闘 could be more desperate. She did not even know what 指名する he might be using, nor in what part of that continent he might be.

"Go away now, please," said Susan. "This house is not 地雷. I must leave it myself in a few days' time."

Susan, no longer in terror of the letters, and no longer in hope of love, Susan bent on expiation, was very different from the weak creature who had bent before the missionary's 未亡人. Olivia saw that she could not move her by 脅しs or 説得／派閥. There was nothing for her to do but to retire to her 恐ろしい 退却／保養地 at Minton Street, and there to think over her 未来 計画（する）s.

She 星／主役にするd at Susan, opened her lips, but could not speak. She would have uttered a 悪口を言う／悪態 could she have done so, but her training had been too rigid; she 屈服するd stiffly and left the room, の近くにing the door with meticulous care, like a 井戸／弁護士席-trained servant.

ｧ 53

Susan Rue, left to herself, returned to her constant 最大の関心事, brooding over her husband's 自殺, to which she was 納得させるd she had driven him by her thoughtless, as she 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d it to herself, wicked 行為. She had returned to Mrs. George Rue all ツバメ's 所有／入手s 同様に as all his money—all his 所有／入手s save one, and that she could not have sent to the （死が）奪い去るd woman in Blackheath, for it was the hempen basket in which the dead man had kept his 薬／医学s. The contents had several times been 診察するd by the 内科医s and 宣言するd 害のない and it had finally been put at the 支援する of one of the cupboards in the room where Susan now sat. She had never やめる forgotten it, but never had it been in the 最前部 of her mind as it was now. For it must be 性質の／したい気がして of soon, before she left the Old Priory. She knew he had died from antimony 毒（薬）ing, yet she still associated his 私的な 薬／医学 蓄える／店 with his death, and with some 致命的な 構内／化合物 he must have concocted for himself. She never really thought of him as going to the stable to steal away the horse 薬／医学, but rather as brooding over the Indian basket with which she was so familiar and from which she had so often seen him mix his own peculiar 薬／医学s. Making an 成果／努力 over inertia and exhaustion, Susan rose and walked slowly to the built-in cupboard and opened it. For awhile her 注目する，もくろむs, inflamed by continual weeping, could see nothing but interlaced 影をつくる／尾行するs that the last daylight, 落ちるing into the cupboard, cast from the medley of 反対するs there—workboxes, tea chests, packs of cards in elastic 禁止（する）d, broken flower vases and lamps. She 反映するd wearily that there was still much work to do before the Old Priory was ready to be shut up in 準備完了 for the purchasers and she wondered, with hardly any 利益／興味, where she should go, and what she should do, for the 残り／休憩（する） of her life. She had no 計画（する） beyond the 事業／計画（する） of returning to Brighton with Curtis, she hardly realized that she was relieved of the detestable 重荷（を負わせる） of Mrs. Sacret's company. She saw the hempen basket and fetched it out with slack 手渡すs. "I must take it away and 注ぐ out the contents of these 瓶／封じ込めるs—there is not much left in any of them, but I suppose these are dangerous—laudanum, chloroform."

She, hesitant, uncertain now in all her 活動／戦闘s, placed the basket on a 味方する （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and went to the buffet. There was now no one to check her and she felt such a wave of melancholy that she 熱望して 注ぐd herself three glasses of sherry and drank them, one after another. A sparkle of hope returned to her sad heart. Perhaps, in expiation, she might find some peace, some tranquillity. She 解任するd both that she was young and that her 評判 was 安全な. Olivia Sacret did not 所有する those 脅すing letters. She, poor, silly Susan, who had already been cruelly exposed in the 証言，証人／目撃する box as feeble, inconstant and unkind, had at least escaped open shame. She could still pass as a respectable woman, she thought; she need no longer 賄賂 or 許容する Mrs. Sacret, the 冷淡な, dark 未亡人.

Curtis entered, drew the curtains, 始める，決める the lit lamp on the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する by the hempen basket and said, "Mrs. George Rue is here, madam, and so is a strange gentleman. They were on the steps together. Shall you see either, or both of them?"

"Old Mrs. Rue!" Susan was startled; her return of ツバメ's money to his mother had been a lawyer's 事件／事情／状勢 and she had received a 乾燥した，日照りの, 合法的な acknowledgment of her 活動／戦闘. Now she 解任するd that her mother-in-法律 had always hated her and spoken cruelly against her in the 証言，証人／目撃する box at the second 調査 into the 原因（となる） of the death of ツバメ Rue.

"I'll not see her, Curtis, she comes only to 侮辱 me. This gentleman, who is he?"

"He gives the 指名する of Mr. Arrow, madam, Mr. David Arrow, and says he comes on 商売／仕事 connected with the late Mr. Rue."

"He should go to the lawyers."

"I told him that, madam. He said it was a personal 事件／事情／状勢—for you only, and that the late Mr. Rue would have wished you to see him."

"Then I must, I suppose," replied Susan ばく然と. "I daresay that it is something unpleasant, but I ought not to mind that! I can 耐える a good 取引，協定—is he really a gentleman?"

Curtis hesitated. "He is very soft spoken, rather like a foreigner, if you know what I mean, not at all rude or ありふれた, I am sure that he would never 感情を害する／違反する."

Susan did not 観察する that her question had been 避けるd. "I shall see him—but send old Mrs. Rue away—she must understand she has no 権利 to come here."

Curtis was still ill at 緩和する.

"It is your mother-in-法律, madam, and this the home where her son died, if you will 許す me for 説 so, and to turn her away, while you 収容する／認める a stranger—" The 井戸／弁護士席-trained 発言する／表明する 中止するd dutifully. Susan was unmoved by this 嘆願 for the proprieties.

"I've had enough of 憎悪," she answered. "Let her 残り／休憩（する）—give her a glass of ワイン, I suppose that she has come from Blackheath, but I'll not see her—"

Curtis did not find it 平易な to 解任する Mrs. George Rue, whom she had left in the 前線 parlor, the stranger 存在 in the hall.

"Tell her that it is most important, that I'll not be turned away," the old woman said, her usually arrogant トン most subdued. "I know that she doesn't think 井戸／弁護士席 of me and has good 原因（となる）."

"She is 解決するd to see a gentleman who has come on 圧力（をかける）ing 商売／仕事."

"It can't be more 圧力（をかける）ing than 地雷—"

"But she is 解決するd—"

"Then I'll wait here—if it is a 事柄 of 事件／事情／状勢s—and an 半端物 time and place for that—it can't take long—I'll wait."

Curtis submitted. Not only was she unfitted to を取り引きする one so much her superior, and from whom she had been used to receive orders, but she 心にいだくd the feeling that these two unhappy and （死が）奪い去るd women should not be kept apart. She even, without knowing why, 大（公）使館員d some importance to this visit, at this late hour, of Mrs. George Rue to her dead son's home.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, then, madam, I'll speak to my mistress when this gentleman has gone. 一方／合間, I am to 申し込む／申し出 you a glass of ワイン."

"No, no, I thank you, I want nothing but to see her, Mrs. ツバメ Rue."

"Then you must wait, ma'am."

Curtis was 会社／堅い this far and shut the door on the old woman in her 激しい 嘆く／悼むing, who sat 激しい and silent again in the rosy light of the silver lamp that showed softly in the twilight.

ｧ 54

Mr. David Arrow 現在のd himself carefully before Susan and spoke with an 空気／公表する of precision. That was her impression of this 静かな man—care and precision; as she rose to 会合，会う him, 持つ／拘留するing out her 手渡す ばく然と, her senses, as was usual with her now, were clouded by the ワイン she had drunk. He appeared to her as the one 限定された, 厳しい 輪郭（を描く） in a room filled by interlacing 影をつくる／尾行するs that, when she peered closer, seemed to 転換 into the forms of phantoms.

"I shall not 拘留する you long, Mrs. Rue," said Mr. Arrow politely. "I am delighted to make your 知識, I have heard of you so often."

His 発言する／表明する was pleasant, but these commonplace words seemed to Susan to tingle with menace. She saw a slight, dark, clean-shaven man, who wore smoked glasses and a 同国人's 控訴 of homespun cloth.

"I don't know you, sir," she murmured, 身を引くing.

"But I know you very 井戸／弁護士席, Mrs. Rue. The truth is that I must come to the point quickly, for I am 圧力（をかける）d, in every way 圧力（をかける）d. I don't say that I 港／避難所't some 技術 in throwing them off the scent, and that I don't enjoy the game for its own sake. But I think it is time that I left the country."

"What has this to do with me?"

"I want money, and you must 供給（する） it—better for both of us if I am blunt. I was a partner with your friend, Olivia Sacret."

"My friend, friend, friend—"

"Our 計画／陰謀s were not successful, 借りがあるing to her vanity and stupidity. But you have had some good luck. You are 解放する／自由な of your 嫌悪すべき husband and able to marry your noble baronet."

"Olivia Sacret sent you whispered Susan.

"No, nor are we likely to see one another again."

"Then who are you?"

"I've no time to answer. I ーするつもりである to 扱う／治療する you kindly, gently You are a very 豊富な woman, and all I 要求する is a little sum of money now and then—now, 緊急に, I need a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, that you can easily 得る as you 得るd the last sum, by tomorrow evening. It may be in gold, or 宝石類—not 公式文書，認めるs." He drew out a packet of letters from the 深い pocket of his gray Quaker jacket and flipped over the contents. Susan 認めるd this at once and everything she せねばならない do became （疑いを）晴らす to her. The stranger saw her 表現 of 解決する and 拍手喝采する what he 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d "her good sense."

"I won't 否定する," he 発言／述べるd easily, "that I like adventure and whimsey now and then, for the fun of it, but いつかs one is 圧力（をかける）d and 悩ますd. Not that I don't always leave my line of 退却／保養地 open."

"Tell me who you are—though it really doesn't 事柄," replied Susan calmly.

"I could strike a 劇の 公式文書，認める on that—remembering this house and what took place here, remembering your prospects and how you （機の）カム by them. I never had any classical learning, but I 選ぶd up a little here and there, and I might 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 myself the Messenger of Pisiphone, the third Fairy, who was the avenger of 血."

"I suppose you will never give me the letters—but 持つ／拘留する them over me always—as she did?"

He returned the dog-eared bundle to his pocket.

"We'll see about that—perhaps Sir John and I will have a little talk about that. Clever of him to go abroad—but I suppose he will soon be returning and there will be a 流行の／上流の marriage? Or かもしれない a 静かな one?"

Susan did not 関心 herself with 否定するing this gibe, or even 許す herself any longer to wonder as to who this man was, and how he （機の）カム into the 所有／入手 of her letters. She felt herself 直面するd by a just 罰 for 運動ing her husband to 自殺. She was surprised now that she had ever supposed that she could 避ける this 罰. Everything, at last, appeared simple.

"You shall have the money tomorrow, of course," she said.

The stranger had 推定する／予想するd this submission that he せいにするd to coward's 恐れる; he believed her incapable of guile.

"Remember, Mrs. Rue, if you should be so foolish as to tell anyone of this visit—to について言及する in any way that I have spoken to you, even to hint that I have the letters—those indiscreet letters—I shall send them to your mother-in-法律."

"I understand," Susan 答える／応じるd mechanically, without giving any attention.

"She is indeed a fool," he thought contemptuously. "I せねばならない have 扱うd her 直接／まっすぐに, myself, before."

He had a card ready in his pocket on which was written an 演説（する）／住所 in Highgate.

"You must go there, about five o'clock tomorrow, and bring the money and the jewels. Ask for Mr. David Arrow."

He felt sure of her; stupid as she might be, she would be quick, shrewd and 誘発する in the 事柄 of saving her 評判, as she had been before. However simple she appeared, she was a woman who had carried on a 内密の intrigue with a married man and perjured herself in 法廷，裁判所 without making a mistake.

"I can 信用 you, Mrs. Rue." It was more of an 主張 than a question.

She repeated the word "信用" as she had repeated "friend," with an accent of curiosity and 厳粛に 屈服するd as the stranger, smiling, took his leave. When the door had の近くにd on him, she 選ぶd up the hempen basket and went upstairs. She trod lightly, for dread of 存在 seen, of 存在 interrupted, and 消えるd lightly into her bedroom, only pausing to ちらりと見ること, for a second, with a look of wonder, at the door of the empty room where her husband had died.

ｧ 55

Mrs. George Rue pulled the bell rope by the hearth and when Curtis appeared asked if the strange 訪問者 had not yet gone. "It is nearly three ４半期/4分の1s of an hour that I have waited here."

"You would stay, ma'am," replied the servant. "If the gentleman had gone I'd have known. Mistress always （犯罪の）一味s for me to show 訪問者s out—not that she has many now."

"No—too much スキャンダル and trouble—people keep away. 井戸／弁護士席, I'm here. And I mean to stay until I see her."

"If it's to torment her, ma'am," began Curtis in a trembling 反抗, but the 年上の woman interrupted ひどく, "It isn't—I feel I was mistaken in her, and that she needs a friend."

"That's true enough, there's only myself, a servant, and a few neighbors and 知識s, who come out of curiosity, to my thinking."

"She must be much alone."

Curtis 公式文書，認めるd with surprise that the 激しい woman, whom she had always regarded as malignant, appeared agitated, even troubled, and the 未亡人 観察するd this astonishment and 追加するd in a shamefaced トン:

"I daresay you think I hounded her. There, I can speak to you 率直に, you are her confidante, if anyone is—"

"She's no secrets to hide," interrupted Curtis, "and never had—"

"I daresay. I begin to see that now. She was a foolish creature and pampered and not the wife for my poor son, but I see I was mistaken in much, and I'd never be small minded and not say when I had been in error."

"And what has made you change your opinion, if I may ask?" 問い合わせd Curtis 慎重に.

Mrs. George Rue lowered her 発言する／表明する, as one who speaks of very delicate 事件／事情／状勢s. She had for some time felt the 願望（する） to unburden herself on this 事柄 and had not, until now, had anyone in whom she could confide. The impulse that had sent her to the Old Priory, an impulse that had sprung from a secret agony of 審議, had been sharpened by her daughter-in-法律's 否定 of her, and the long waiting in the parlor, already 取り去る／解体するd for the final 通関手続き／一掃 of her late son's goods and chattels.

"As I said, Curtis, I don't mind confiding in you, who have stood by and seen everything," she whispered hoarsely. "I've thought it all over and though there's no 疑問 that she was a silly, light thing—was, I say—I think she was no more. I think 井戸／弁護士席 of Sir John going abroad—a final parting it seems to be, and that makes me believe that she is a good woman and has some 尊敬（する）・点 for my poor son's memory, after all."

"A pity you hadn't come to that opinion at the 検死 and the 調査, ma'am, when you hadn't a good word to say for her."

"Yes. I 収容する／認める that."

"And I do think," 追加するd Curtis stoutly, "it is 半端物 that you should have changed so."

"Susan—your mistress—returned to me all my son's money—without a scene, or wanting thanks, just 正式に, through the lawyers. That shows she isn't しっかり掴むing."

The servant was silent. She 設立する it hard to 解任する all her 憤慨 against this unpleasant old woman, who had been so prejudiced, cruel and stupid, yet she felt 強いるd to credit her 現在の 誠実 and she realized how 厳しい an 成果／努力 this visit must have cost one 自然に so 厳しい. More than that, her compassion and affection for her mistress 重さを計るd with her, the unfortunate lady was so alone, so sad and hopeless, so friendless. Was not this 疑わしい 親切 better than 非，不，無?

"You ought to be a mother to her," she 発言／述べるd thoughtfully.

"I could never be that, Curtis. I daresay that there would never be much sympathy between us. But I could stand by her, give her countenance—if she could 許す me," 追加するd the old woman with 停止（させる）ing difficulty.

"She'd never 耐える malice to anyone—it isn't in her," said Curtis.

"So I think. I wish I had written to her, or come to see her before, it was a struggle and took a long time to decide, as 事柄s do when you have to think them out alone."

The two women had drawn closer together, a ありふれた understanding encompassed them.

"It was that Mrs. Sacret," 発言／述べるd Curtis. "She was all the trouble."

"I know it," agreed the other with a glinting look. "I soon had her 手段. She had a 持つ／拘留する on your mistress."

"I'd have supposed that—but Mrs. ツバメ Rue isn't a lady to have secrets."

"So I think now. I was misled. But everything seemed to 示す ゆすり，恐喝."

"That is a 汚い word."

"A murderous 肉親，親類d of word. That missionary's 未亡人, that chapel woman—she had something. Letters, I suppose. I don't believe that they were more than indiscreet, but Susan was 脅すd."

"She isn't now," put in Curtis 速く. "Mrs. Sacret's going, never to come 支援する. Mistress said the lawyer, Mr. Southey, had settled that—but she didn't say what that was."

"There!" exclaimed Mrs. George Rue triumphantly. "What you say shows I am 権利—it was some trifle Susan 誇張するd and she is a good woman. I wish she had confided in me, I should have known how to have dealt with that sly, evil creature."

"You didn't encourage my mistress to confide in you," said Curtis with a touch of returning 憤慨.

"No. But now it shall be different. I shall 説得する her to tell me everything and to help me to bring this wretched Dissenter to 司法（官）."

"My mistress won't want any more スキャンダル."

"There are secret ways of 司法（官）, Curtis—I'll go to her now."

These last words broke the （一定の）期間 of the women's absorption in another woman's story. They had not 観察するd the passage of time nor how the day was beginning to darken around them and the rosy light of the small silver lamp. They were startled by the twilight and the silence that surrounded that faint glow of 人工的な light.

"Yes, I must go to her," repeated Mrs George Rue hurriedly. "How the time has passed, talking, surely it is getting late. Oh, yes, getting late!"

"Yes, indeed, ma'am, I don't know what I was thinking of—late and dark—That little lamp just shows the 影をつくる／尾行するs."

"Late and dark"—Curtis 軍隊d herself to 回復する a 支配（する）／統制する that she felt, unaccountably, to be breaking. "I suppose it is what I have been through," she murmured. "My 神経s are all gone."

"What did you say, Curtis, that your 神経s are all gone?" Mrs. George Rue rose. "I suppose you mean that you are overtired, with all these horrors. I'm here now. I'll help you look after your mistress. We might all go away together."

"Yes, ma'am, all go away together—"

Again the two women were silent, listening to the silence, 星／主役にするing into the dusk that seemed to them to thicken 速く.

The old woman, helping herself by her stick, crossed to the door and repeated her 需要・要求する for more lamps.

"I'll light the gas in the hall," muttered Curtis. "Mistress always disliked it, you know. Lamps are more in keeping with the Old Priory, she always said. But so many of them have been put away, or sold—"

"She asked me," said Mrs. George Rue 速く, "if I 手配中の，お尋ね者 my son's things out of this house, or the house itself, and I replied—no, indeed no—so she 教えるd her lawyers to sell it all—all the 所有物／資産／財産—for my 利益."

"Yes, it is to be all sold—you see that there is nothing much left, only a 議長，司会を務める or so, and the beds—"

"No one looked after my son's 温室, I suppose?"

"The mistress—as much as she could—before she went to Brighton—then the gardener was 解任するd and the stove wasn't looked to, and all the 工場／植物s died."

"They would with neglect—my son had some 罰金 見本／標本s, he received a メダル once. Ordinary flowers, some of them, but grown to 広大な／多数の／重要な perfection. I hope that chapel woman never meddled with them."

"That's a queer thing to say, ma'am. I don't think she did. She was always 井戸／弁護士席 behaved, as those sham ladies are. What she did was 地下組織の. Master gave her a マリファナ 工場／植物 once, puce and scarlet. She was very proud of it, because he said it was like her, but she soon forgot it and put it out on her window sill, where he 設立する it, やめる withered."

The two women were now in the passage, and Curtis had lowered the （犯罪の）一味 of gas jets on its chain and lit these from a box of lucifer matches taken from her apron pocket; as the circle of heart-形態／調整d 炎上s, blue and yellow, was raised into place, shedding through opal globes an 照明 冷淡な and piercing along the hall and up the stairs, Mrs. George Rue whispered:

"We are making 延期するs on 目的. Why doesn't your mistress （犯罪の）一味 for lights, or to have her 訪問者 shown out? And what of her dinner hour?"

"She never takes meals in the old way," replied Curtis hurriedly. "Just something on a tray—and—"

"I know. Too many glasses of ワイン."

"Mrs. Sacret drove her to it, and kept her 供給（する）d, on the sly, 汚い stuff, the master said it was—and then when she was 率直に shamed in 法廷，裁判所 about sleeping through the master's illness, she felt it didn't 事柄 any more."

The two women were whispering in so low a トン they could hardly hear one another's words.

"Where are they—your mistress and her 訪問者?"

"In the room opposite." Curtis had opened the door and nodded across the wide 回廊（地帯）. "I've only one maid and a cleaner to help me—they are both out now, so we're alone."

"Alone? But there is your mistress and her 訪問者."

Curtis crossed the passage and looked into the room where more than an hour 以前 she had shown in the man who had given the 指名する of David Arrow.

It was empty, the 味方する curtains were not drawn, the blind not lowered, the sash was raised and the 安定した 微風 blew the short muslin curtain, a 追跡する of white, into the 影をつくる／尾行するs—where an empty 議長，司会を務める was drawn up の近くに to an empty settee.

"He must have gone very 静かに," 発言／述べるd Mrs. George Rue, still whispering low. "I never heard a step—even across the 回廊（地帯） there, and I was sitting 静かに waiting."

"He was a soft-moving sort of man. My mistress couldn't have rung her bell."

"And she must have gone out—or gone upstairs noiselessly."

"She wouldn't go out, so late, without telling me of her 意向, and no hat or mantle. She was timid without the carriage, and alone. I always went with her—so late, too," muttered Curtis, whose look had altered to one wild and livid beneath the small gaslight of the bracket lamp in the passage. Mrs. George Rue peered at her with purblind ちらりと見ること.

"I shall go up and find her, Curtis. I suppose she has the same bedroom?"

"Yes—next to the master's—she said that she couldn't 推定する／予想する to be spared that."

Curtis was in the empty room, の近くにing the window, pulling 負かす／撃墜する the blind, putting away the 瓶／封じ込める of ワイン in the mahogany 味方する-board, 激しい and grim as the sarcophagus that filled one 塀で囲む space.

With the 国／地域d glass she had 選ぶd up in her 手渡す, she returned to the 回廊（地帯）. Mrs. George Rue was halfway up the first flight of stairs.

She was walking with difficulty, clumsily trying to support herself on her stick and by 持つ／拘留するing の上に the stout balusters. The 空気／公表する seemed dark and 冷淡な for all the summer season and the gaslight, and Curtis had some ill-timed thoughts she could not herself 解釈する／通訳する as she 星／主役にするd at the unwieldy 人物／姿／数字 in the worn and lusterless crape and bombazine 上がるing the comfortable stairs as if she struggled against some formidable 障害.

"I 港／避難所't had a tranquil mind, this long while," said Curtis, 星／主役にするing into the glass she held, in which lay a 減少（する） of tawny ワイン. She heard Mrs. George Rue calling to her in a croaking 発言する／表明する.

"I'd rather that you （機の）カム up, too, Curtis, it is 無分別な of me, going up like this, by myself, after what has been between us—she won't know I'm here—"

"She won't know that anyone is here."

"Do come. And don't pause. Here we are, listening and waiting again. I don't know why I waited so long."

"She had a cheerful nature, 十分な of hope, and gay," said Curtis. "You'd wonder how things would go so wrong for one like that; 肉親，親類d, too."

"I'll do my best to make 修正するs, only come up with me now, Curtis—I suppose there is no one else up there?"

"No one." She 上がるd the 平易な, shallow treads, 持つ／拘留するing the glass slackly, so that the 減少（する） of ワイン fell out and was lost in the 厚い carpet.

"I never thought that I'd come up these stairs again," whispered Mrs. George Rue, giving Curtis her stick and leaning on the servant's arm. "Not that I ever was here often—only in the visiting rooms, on the ground 床に打ち倒す."

They paused on the first 上陸, in the angle before them were two doors, Curtis turned to that on the left and opened it carefully. They had only the light that （機の）カム up the stairs in a flickering glow and into this the open door sent a dusky dimness, for Susan's bedroom was dark.

The two women waited on the threshold, listening, as if 推定する／予想するing a 召喚するs to enter.

"You speak, ma'am," whispered Curtis at last. "She'll be drowsy, or asleep."

The 未亡人 moved her 新たな展開d mouth unsteadily, the word "Susan" （機の）カム as faint as an echo, in the half 影をつくる／尾行する her 黒人／ボイコット 人物／姿／数字 was shapeless and blended with the dull gray of the servant's dress, broken by the hard white of apron, bib and cap.

"I don't know why we don't go in," 追加するd Mrs. George Rue. "It's not her fault if she's drunk too much. I don't 反対する to seeing her like that; in fact, I'll sit with her while you make a little beef tea—yes, that is it, Curtis, a little beef tea. I suppose you have it in the house."

"We need a light," whispered the servant. "She always has lamps in these rooms. She doesn't like gas for the smell and the hissing."

"Lights, you keep talking of lights, why didn't you bring one up?"

"I've matches in my pocket."

"Strike one then."

"Come over the threshold, then."

The two women, who seemed one darker 影をつくる／尾行する の中で the 影をつくる／尾行するs of the large room, moved together; they 直面するd the window. The curtains were undrawn and a square of pale sky showed against what was the blurred 輪郭（を描く） of the ill-grown trees in the 郊外の garden.

"It's empty," muttered Mrs. George Rue. "This room is also empty. She must have gone away—"

Curtis, after some fumbling, struck a match, the 炎上 darted up, showing, first, the reflection of the two women in the oval mirror on the muslin-draped dressing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, so that they 星／主役にするd at themselves, lit by 炎上—lined, 淡褐色 and ugly 直面するs seemed those two countenances, one under the 未亡人's cap, one the servant's cap. Each thought the other 恐ろしい and colorless, and each drew apart from her companion as the match ゆらめくd out, and Curtis dropped the charred stick where she had, unknowing what she did, dropped the glass, by the 味方する of the 孤独な, unruffled bed, where the yellow satin quilt was spread neatly beneath the lace flounces that Curtis herself had 始める，決める in order that morning.

Mrs. George Rue felt her way around the foot of the bed, 持つ／拘留するing の上に the 大規模な 厚かましさ／高級将校連 rails that shone in the gleam of the second match that Curtis struck.

"Here she is—on the 床に打ち倒す—密談する／（身体を）寄せ集めるd up." The 未亡人 put her 手渡す to her forehead, and peered around the room as if something had altered there. "Don't let the match go out, now don't—I saw a lamp. We must get her into bed."

"That's 平易な—she's so wasted that a child could 解除する her."

Curtis had lit the 味方する （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する lamp, mechanically deft again at the 決まりきった仕事 work that had always been her care.

"If you'll please to 許す me to come, ma'am, I'll know what to do—"

"But I want her to speak to me," stammered the 未亡人, standing at the feet of the motionless, prostrate 人物／姿／数字. "She must speak to me. I want to tell her that I know she is a good woman. I want her to 許す me—"

"Take your stick," 命令（する）d the servant, unhooking the crook from her arm—"a queer old stick it is—and leave go of the bedstead rails, ma'am, and 許す me to come around."

Mrs. George Rue obeyed, つまずくing over something on the 床に打ち倒す. "It is the master's Indian basket," said Curtis. "I thought they had taken that away. And all the contents scattered about."

"瓶／封じ込めるs—and a 汚い, 厚い smell—"

"持つ／拘留する the lamp, bring it nearer," Curtis was on her 膝s beside her mistress, "持つ／拘留する it nearer—lower, so. Yes, of course, I knew it awhile ago—when we stopped talking and the house was so silent. She's dead."

ｧ 56

Mrs. Sacret read of the death of Susan Rue in the Morning 地位，任命する and felt a gnawing 憤慨 against a fool who had cheated herself and cheated others of so many pleasant things. How many 利益s it had been in her 力／強力にする to 会談する on Olivia Sacret, who had taken so much trouble with her dull and sordid 事件／事情／状勢s—the missionary's 未亡人 could but with 悲惨な difficulty 含む／封じ込める her passion when she considered, as she could not 避ける considering, what she had 行方不明になるd. The 事例／患者 was an exasperating puzzle also. There had been an 検死 and the 判決 had been "death by misadventure," and this on the 証拠 of Dr. Virtue, Mrs. George Rue and Curtis, three people much disliked by Olivia Sacret.

The tale ran 滑らかに. After her shocking misfortunes Mrs. ツバメ Rue had been given a sleeping draught and one night, 明白に afflicted by an 接近 of sleeplessness, had taken an overdose having, by a 致命的な chance, 設立する where the 供給（する） of the 薬／医学, ゆだねるd to her ever-constant maid, was kept, and thinking it to be a 害のない tonic, which she also took. Dr. Virtue's opinion was against the theory of 自殺. His 患者 was 占領するd with 計画（する）s for the 未来, was young, healthy, not in the least melancholy and had made a surprising 回復 from the 悲劇 of her husband's death; this 証拠 was supported by Mrs. George Rue, who had been in the house at the time of her daughter-in-法律's death, by Curtis, by the other women 雇うd in the Old Priory, by several 知識s.

Public feeling had run 堅固に against Susan Rue, but now there was a general delicacy in 取引，協定ing with her character that exasperated Mrs. Sacret. She did not understand the 感情 that had moved not only Dr. Virtue and Mrs. George Rue, but even the 検死官 and the 陪審／陪審員団, one of compassion toward a woman who, somehow, by some means, had been 追跡（する）d to her death. Innocent or 有罪の, foolish or wise, she had, either deliberately or by mischance, passed from mortal judgment and even those who relished this 悪意のある 新規加入 to what the evening papers still 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d "The Clapham Mystery" spoke with reserve of Susan Rue, while の中で the many who had 圧力（をかける）d into the （人が）群がる to see her shamed in the 証言，証人／目撃する box were some who remembered that she was gentle and pretty.

But to Olivia Sacret she was, even in her 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, an 反対する of contempt, and it was with a moody curiosity that the missionary's 未亡人 considered this dead fool. Susan had been too kindly 扱う／治療するd, even by the 検死官's 判決, for it was obvious, Mrs. Sacret thought contemptuously, that ツバメ Rue's 未亡人 had taken her own life, from 動機s of 悔恨 and when fuddled with ワイン. She supposed that she drove him to self-破壊. Mrs. Sacret was in 薄暗い argument with herself, 追求するing an intricate 審議 beneath the outward apathy 課すd by her misfortune. A pity she did not know that she did 殺人 him—how much unnecessary trouble I took over that—putting the glass into her 手渡す, so careful, and she never remembered and the point was never raised—

Mrs. Sacret tried to get some なぐさみ for herself out of the end of Susan. At least she, Olivia Sacret, was out of danger, that particular danger that had been so terrible, that now she could not 解任する the agony it had 原因（となる）d, only the 孤独な fact that she had been in 危険，危なくする and that of the most horrible 肉親，親類d—危険，危なくする of—she would not consider that. No one would now 乱す the story of ツバメ Rue and his wife. Very few would even be 関心d with doing so. There was Sir John, but he was abroad and the missionary's 未亡人 did not 疑問 that he would remain there, having so 広大な／多数の／重要な a care for his 評判 as to perjure himself on 誓い. Perhaps the death of Susan would even be a 救済 to him. Mrs. Sacret decided that she must 解任する this 豊富な, stupid man from her 計画／陰謀s. She could no longer 脅す him, even if she knew' where to find him. Her prospects were remote and doubtful, and these words, used in her icy brooding, lit their bleakness—"where to find him—" She had no 手がかり（を与える） as to the どの辺に of the painter, she did not know where to find him.

Australia, Africa, Asia—she considered the small 手動式のs of 地理学 she had learned her 始める，決める lessons from at school, she remembered the colored 地図／計画するs, bound tightly into the text, and how she had, so often, done Susan's lessons for her. And then she thought of something else from a lesson 調書をとる／予約する, the perfect housewife, Madame Dupont, who conversed in 平易な French about （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs and 議長，司会を務めるs, 昼食s and dinners, and how that 指名する had been taken for her by the painter on the strange visit to the country when she had worn the green and crimson dress. That was needless, too, like giving Susan the glass of water—with the 薬／医学—I wonder why he troubled? Why did he paint those 人物／姿／数字s for me to see?

She had been abandoned by all, even by hope, when this livid brightness had come her way. No, that was not so, first there had been Susan and the 高級なs she had 得るd from Susan and the sense of 力／強力にする she had 雇うd over Susan and Susan's husband. And this reflection brought her to the letters. She rejoiced, as far as any manner of rejoicing was any longer possible to her, that the letters were now useless to the painter unless he ferreted out Sir John and 得るd some hush money there.

The missionary's 未亡人 became exasperated in a blind, fumbling fashion as this 可能性 その上の darkened her cloudy musings.

He had robbed her—of money, of the diamond bracelet, of her trunks.

She could not outwardly raise a hue and cry after the first losses, but かもしれない she might do so about the trunks. Yes, there had been a 限定された 窃盗, and one she could 公然と非難する to the police.

Yes, that was it, the detestable Curtis had 宣言するd that the police—she had even 指名するd one, Sergeant Precious—or had that been Mr. Southey?—had spoken of the trunks. At this bitter leaping into her mind of the 指名する of the lawyer, Mrs. Sacret rose and paced her 狭くする room. How he had fooled her, with his pretense of stupidity—how 背信の he had been, taking a 料金 for defending her 利益／興味s, then 警告 Susan about her so that Susan was no longer in dread of the letters.

However, she need not consider him any more, he had gone out of her life, as had a number of other hateful people, with the death of Susan.

She tried to 安定した her thoughts. What good would it do her, what use would it be to her, to 宿泊する a （民事の）告訴 with the police that her tenant had stolen her trunks?

They knew that already and that the painter was a 犯罪の who had escaped to Australia. They had even traced one of the dresses, once in the trunks, to a slum hussy of the 近隣, the slut who had deceived Olivia Sacret, one 雨の night, into fancying—she who was so little 傾向がある to fancy!—that she saw her own 二塁打, the phantom of Madame Dupont, the phantom of that happy day in the country, before her. Yes, the police had shown that 罰金, rare dress to Curtis, who had 認めるd it—why had they not come to her, the respectable missionary's 未亡人, who was the lawful owner of it?

Perhaps they were waiting for her to （人命などを）奪う，主張する it—and there were the other articles 同様に, all that Susan had given her, 着せる／賦与するs, trinkets—価値のある things, 価値（がある） money. How was it, she asked herself ひどく, that she had not thought of this before?

Of course the police were waiting for her to （人命などを）奪う，主張する her 所有物／資産／財産. They must consider it 半端物 that she had not yet done so. But she could tell a good tale to account for her 延期する. She had had so many agitations and then the dreadful death of her dearest friend, she could make that last use of Susan, yes, she could say that the sudden death of Susan had made her ill. And surely, when she had told her story, she would receive, 配達するd at her home in Minton Street, those handsome, hair-covered, 厚かましさ／高級将校連-studded trunks that it had given her such 楽しみ to own.

Her spirits lighted a little at the prospect of 開始 these trunks and turning over the plunder that was all that she had left of the adventure that had begun with her visit to the Old Priory.

She paused to puzzle over how the police had traced and 回復するd her 所有／入手s—the painter must have absconded, leaving his plunder behind, and here was another acrid bewilderment, how had he contrived to こそこそ動く away? Certainly he had had her money—how merciless, in its 力／強力にする to torment, was that thought—but as the police had traced him as far as Liverpool, how was it that they had not traced him さらに先に?

She was as ignorant of such 犯罪の and 合法的な 事柄s as she had been when she had returned from Jamaica, speaking the idiom of a missionary's 未亡人, 捜し出すing for pious work at a small 行う. Her experiences at the Old Priory had not 大きくするd her experiences of mankind; all the people with whom she had dealt, while under the 影響（力） of a mind that had 支配するd her own, were no longer of any 利益／興味 to her, they had all been so foolish and so little had she 伸び（る）d from any of them that they had 消えるd from her 憶測s. Only the painter still teased her baffled thoughts.

一方／合間, even these mean daydreams were a 高級な. She must find some 暮らし and she must get away from Minton Street.

She considered putting an 宣伝 in the papers 申し込む／申し出ing to go abroad, anywhere, as companion, as lady's maid—surely some of her one-time chapel 知識s would give her testimonials? On the surface her life at the Old Priory appeared without reproach; she forgot the notoriety 大（公）使館員ing to "the Clapham Mystery" and the terrible 疑惑 that had once been cast on her, if only in a passing, a ちらりと見ることing manner. She knew no one so was not aware of her 評判, her neighbors had always been curious and 敵意を持った and she, now, as always, ignored their 星／主役にするs, grins and muttered comments.

With a restless hope of finding some of what she 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d her "stolen 所有物／資産／財産," Olivia Sacret turned over the shabby contents of her shabby little house.

But the painter had left nothing behind except Frederick Sacret's poor furnishings, save the worn trunk that he had used as a model's 王位.

Mrs. Sacret wished that she could have this 除去するd, as it reminded her so unpleasantly of the smart, new luggage of which she had been robbed. She looked at the old trunk again. It was 井戸／弁護士席 made and still stout, but rubbed and dirty outside, and within lined with a cheap stained 交替／補充 of the 初めの lining—wallpaper with pink roses and green birds on a blue trellis. She tore some of this 国／地域d lining away to see if any 反対する of value—some papers or little articles of 宝石類—was beneath, and 設立する nothing.

His story she now saw as sordid as she had once seen it brilliant—but she could not imagine either the squalor or the brilliancy; his 人物／姿／数字 had always stood out against 不明瞭.

As she stood discontented and irresolute, a 非難する on the door startled her, and jostling fancies 乱すd her puzzled, 無作為の thoughts. In a second of time she had pictured the painter, Susan, her late husband and Mr. Southey as （電話線からの）盗聴 at her door. Her blank gaze turning to the window, she saw above the 捨てる of 国／地域d muslin curtain a carriage stayed at the 抑制（する） before her home. The 非難する was repeated and she had some 意向 of not answering this 召喚するs, yet went to open the door to Mrs. George Rue.

At sight of this adversary, her undefined 恐れるs 消えるd and her spirits were 解除するd. Here was someone whom she could easily master, on whom she could 演習 her swelling malice.

With her pleasant 発言する／表明する lowered, she asked her 訪問者 into the 前線 parlor. The 年上の 未亡人 was helping herself awkwardly with her stick and sank clumsily, without an 招待, into the beehive 議長，司会を務める by the empty hearth.

"Now, what can you and I have to say to one another?" asked Mrs. Sacret demurely.

"I suppose you think very little, and that not 肉親，親類d. But I come in a friendly way."

The missionary's 未亡人 stood silent, sly and 怪しげな, with 倍のd 手渡すs and downcast lids.

"We met in a chance medley and never understood one another, I daresay. But I've come to see things 異なって—I was reconciled with poor, dear Susan before she died, and she told me what a good friend you had been to her."

So, thought Olivia Sacret, not changing her 態度, the fool was afraid of me—to the end. I suppose she was never sure if I had the letters or not.

"I made a mistake," continued Mrs. George Rue. "Susan was light and silly, but she was a good woman, and she died of a broken heart because of my poor boy—and I'm sorry if I seemed to dislike her—"

"If!" smiled Mrs. Sacret. "You were her worst enemy."

"Don't say that, now pray don't—and as for those two horrid 検死s—who knew what was 新たな展開d out of them by those cunning lawyers. We せねばならない forget all that—as if it had never happened. It is a の近くにd 一時期／支部—my poor boy and Susan."

Mrs. Sacret thought it wise to agree with this, and 屈服するd her comely 長，率いる in assent.

"But we're alive, Mrs. Sacret, and have to be accounted for—"

"By whom—accounted for

"That was an 半端物 way of speaking, I know. I am not clever, like you. I'm old, also, an old woman, and やめる （死が）奪い去るd and alone now. I've only one 反対する left in life—to see 司法（官） done."

"司法（官）?"

"Yes. My mind has been 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd. But I do dwell on that and what I can do. I want to make some 修正するs to poor Susan. I think of my son, too, of course. 井戸／弁護士席, Mrs. Sacret, you'll wonder how this comes to 関心 you. I have a 提案. I see you made nothing out of your 住居 at the Old Priory. I hear that you were even robbed of your luggage. I am sure that your health must have been 土台を崩すd—have you any 計画（する）s?"

"You know," replied Mrs. Sacret, "正確に／まさに my position and what my 計画（する）s are likely to be."

"A very sensible answer. Very 井戸／弁護士席, then. I 提案する that you come and live with me, at Blackheath, as a companion. It will be a retired 存在, as I am in 深い 嘆く／悼むing—and always must be—but I shall see you 供給するd for."

She had a leaden look on her swollen 直面する and a hurry in her 発言する／表明する, a tremble in her sagging lips and in her shapeless 手渡すs that 証明するd she struggled with a formidable emotion. Mrs. Sacret 認めるd this, though she could not understand this 超過 of feeling. She had 尊敬（する）・点d Mrs. George Rue as a worthy enemy—was it possible that she was only another sentimental fool, that she really thought Susan a good woman and 悲しみd over her? If she was not moved by that 感情, what did 抑圧する her?

"Come," 勧めるd the old woman. "I see you 疑問 me—and I don't wonder—"

"I must 解任する what you said to me—you thought I had a 持つ／拘留する over Susan."

"A wicked thought," sighed Mrs. George Rue. "But don't （不足などを）補う your mind in a hurry. Curtis is in my service now. She is outside in the carriage—"

"Curtis was always insolent to me."

"She won't be any longer. She, too, sees things 異なって." The old woman continued to talk, 圧力（をかける）ing the missionary's 未亡人 to come and live with her—for awhile at least—

Mrs. Sacret despised-her and the servant. How much cleverer she was than either of them! Susan, 脅すd Susan, must have lied on her deathbed—the 詳細（に述べる）s of which were やめる unknown to the missionary's 未亡人—and her mother-in-法律 and the maid were really actuated by some sickly 悔恨: What other 動機 could be lurking in this surprising 提案?

Olivia could not see any 推論する／理由 to 辞退する the 申し込む／申し出 of a comfortable home, even with a detestable old woman in a dull 世帯. It was a most 予期しない chance to escape from Minton Street and to enjoy again the 高級なs to which she had been accustomed at the Old Priory. It was also agreeable to have that impudent enemy Curtis, at what the missionary's 未亡人 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d to herself—"her beck and call."

She 内密に 軽蔑（する）d foolish old Mrs. Rue for taking into her service—evidently as a gesture of much belated 悔恨—this stiff, disagreeable servant, and considered Curtis herself with equal contempt for 受託するing what was, after all, a not very 井戸／弁護士席-paid or 望ましい 状況／情勢. For Curtis, who had become a confidential maid, even more, an actual confidante, at Clapham, was, Olivia soon 設立する, no more than a 衝撃を和らげるもの between servants and mistress at Blackheath. Indeed, Mrs.

George Rue had an 適する staff and a 井戸／弁護士席-run 設立, and she had had "to make a place" for Curtis, to whose lot fell all the 半端物s and ends of labor that the others 避けるd or disliked. Mrs. Sacret took good care to put as many tiresome 職業s as possible on the woman whom she had never forgiven for her insolent and public outspokenness, and it gave her かなりの 楽しみ to 始める，決める the maid mending, アイロンをかけるing or running errands at some inconvenient time.

One warm, 早期に autumn day when she noticed that Curtis, who had just brought a pile of hemstitched 検討する，考慮する handkerchiefs to the room, looked haggard and 紅潮／摘発するd, Mrs. Sacret laughed in her 直面する, 発言／述べるing, "I wonder you stay here, with two mistresses to order you about—and both of them ladies you used to dislike."

"I can't choose," replied the gray servant sullenly.

"No, I suppose you can't—you're getting past your work, and can't have much of a character—even if Mrs. ツバメ Rue had lived to 令状 you a testimonial, it wouldn't have been any use to you, coming from her—whose 評判 had been so blown on. Indeed, I suppose you were lucky in getting into service here—it is やめる comfortable—though as Mrs. George Rue has 相続するd all her son's money she might have some more 高級なs and run things in a better style."

"I'm sure I don't know about that, ma'am," replied Curtis, smoothing the 罰金 handkerchiefs into place.

"No, I don't suppose you do, or I either," mocked Mrs. Sacret, who spoke to the servant for sheer need of speaking to someone who had in any way 株d her experiences. She was lonely, and though she tried not to be idle, she had no 限定された, important 仕事 to keep her from 退屈. "A pity that your late mistress did not leave you something in her will—what a careless person she was—dying intestate, and all her fortune going to distant relations she had not even seen."

Curtis was silent. She never had anything to say when the missionary's 未亡人 goaded her on the 支配する of Susan's death.

"Oh, 井戸／弁護士席!" Olivia Sacret 影響する／感情d a yawn. "It is really very 半端物 that we three should be together in this dull way—after all the fuss and crying, crazy 無効のs, sudden deaths and 検死s, illicit lovers and scenes of passion! And now we are all so very respectable and nothing ever happens that is in the least exciting."

"I don't want any more excitements like we had at the Old Priory, ma'am."

"Of course not. How stupid you are. You always tried to get above your 駅／配置する. Give me those handkerchiefs, they are not very 井戸／弁護士席 done, you might take more care—idle as you are."

"My sight isn't as good as it was. I must get stronger glasses."

"Yes, pray do." Mrs. Sacret yawned again and turned her 支援する on the servant as she left the room.

Old Mrs. George Rue was really besotted, the missionary's 未亡人 mused, to take on both herself, as companion, who-hardly tried to be useful, and Curtis, a needless servant, who spent most of her time waiting on a 扶養家族. How 半端物 that such a 会社／堅い seeming character should 証明する to be foolish and sentimental!

She gave Olivia Sacret a generous allowance and a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of freedom, 同様に as continually 申し込む／申し出ing her やめる 価値のある 現在のs and showing some 関心 as to her 未来. She had 約束d to leave her "comfortably off," but 絶えず 宣言するd that she would like to see Susan's best—perhaps her only friend—"settled in life."

But Olivia Sacret, who had the excuse of her sacred grief, 避けるd her company. She felt very 用心深い, very 用心深い; her 冷淡な, lazy and 積極的な nature did not crave for homely joys. Certainly she did not ーするつもりである to remain very long at the Cedars, Blackheath, but she considered remaining for the lifetime of Mrs. George Rue. The old lady's own 内科医, Dr. Balance, and Dr. Virtue—who had been taken into her 信用／信任—had both 発言／述べるd, in Olivia Sacret's 審理，公聴会, that her heart was "not good," that she had 苦しむd more than might have appeared from the shock of her son's death, and the rigorous part she had played in the two 検死s, and that she "ought to be made comfortable and not worried."

Mrs. Sacret had learned from this that the old woman might die やめる soon, and so it was 価値（がある） her while to play a waiting game.

She had 行方不明になるd the small annuity that Susan had 約束d. Mr. Southey might have paid it, but Olivia Sacret thought it wiser to let him alone. She had not been successful in 得るing her trunks and the 価値のあるs they 含む／封じ込めるd from the police, though Mrs. George Rue had helped her in this delicate 事柄, and Sergeant Precious had himself called at the Cedars.

The missionary's 未亡人 thought him a stupid man. He had such a slow manner of speaking, such a blank look and such a square, expressionless 直面する that, from the first moment of ちらりと見ることing at him, she lost her hidden thrill of terror that he might ask perilous questions, and she said she was not sure of the dates in the 事柄 of the 除去 of the trunks from Minton Street.

But Sergeant Precious had raised no difficulties. He had even commiserated with her on 存在 deceived by the smooth-tongued rogue who had been her tenant and 追加するd that it was "no wonder," since the man, under さまざまな 偽名，通称s, had been 有罪の of several most skillful 詐欺s.

"I saw him very seldom," Olivia Sacret had considered it wise to say, and Sergeant Precious had answered that she was fortunate in having so little to do with so dangerous a rascal, 追加するing—"not but a lady like yourself would have seen through him, it was only those poor, silly, ありふれた creatures he deceived."

"But you said he was clever at deception?"

"In a large way, yes—but I am thinking of the women, ma'am. He never did anything there with anyone of your class."

This had been comfortable 審理，公聴会 to Olivia Sacret, but had 増加するd her contempt of the 探偵，刑事—how could such as he 裁判官 of the fascination of the painter? How dare he 裁判官 women? What they 手配中の，お尋ね者, what they liked?

The police had 証明するd incompetent, and not only in their 見積（る） of the relations between Mrs. Sacret and her tenant. They had not been able to trace the man beyond Liverpool, where he had been 影をつくる／尾行するd to the quay, and there lost sight of, and they had not 設立する the stolen luggage, nor any of the pretty things Susan had given to her friend. Mrs. Sacret could not but 自白する her 救済 to herself that this 激しい curtain had fallen over her episode with the painter, but にもかかわらず she despised the police, and through them, the 法律. This contempt 始める，決める her much at 緩和する, it was as if she had been afraid—so miserably afraid—of what was not really terrible, but feeble and stupid. She had asked Sergeant Precious how it was that the police had been 跡をつけるing her tenant before they knew of his 窃盗 of her goods, and the answer had been—because of another 罪，犯罪 committed some time ago—"as we often do, Mrs. Sacret, long after the 犯罪の thinks we have forgotten him. Indeed we いつかs give him a long rope—a sense of 安全, if you understand me—so that he shall betray himself in the end."

Olivia Sacret had thought this grandiose nonsense, spoken to cover up incompetency, and the 宣告，判決 （機の）カム 支援する to her now, as she sat at the window, after her acrid interview with Curtis, looking at the sunset sky, the color of 炎上 about the dark, 外国人 trees that gave the house its 指名する.

How she had longed to ask what had been the 記録，記録的な／記録する of the painter, what the police knew of him, for what 罪，犯罪 he was 存在 追求するd—and with what 軍隊 this longing returned to her now, making her loneliness vivid!

Yet what did it 事柄? It was （疑いを）晴らす enough that he was a vulgar adventurer who had lived by 詐欺s on women. He had 示すd her 負かす／撃墜する as a simple chapel woman with a rich friend after, no 疑問, minute 調査s at places of which she knew nothing—such as the 地元の public houses, but where she and her neighbors and her 事件／事情／状勢s would be very 井戸／弁護士席 known. What luck it had been for him to discover that she 借りがあるd her money to—ゆすり，恐喝.

Even now her thought checked at the word; it 代表するd one of the things she would not 収容する／認める, even in her secret thoughts.

No, she must forget the past and only remember what she had 相続するd from it, the silly, sentimental 保護 of an 嫌悪すべき old woman who had been her 厳しい enemy.

Her choice now lay between a lazy endurance of the 慰安s of this very 平易な 設立, waiting for Mrs. George Rue to die, and an adventuring into the world to see what she could do for herself from the vantage ground of the Cedars. She 認めるd how 完全に she was without the spirit of adventure, she was inert with spiritual sloth, though she did not give it that 指名する.

She had only gone to Jamaica because she was 軍隊d to …を伴って her husband where he could earn his living, she had made nothing of the experience and soon forgotten it; the bizarre 影響（力） of the painter had taken her out of herself as if she had been hypnotized. When that had been 孤立した, an instinct of self-保護 had made her 警報, watchful, energetic. Now she was 安全な and comfortable, and had no 願望（する） to 危険 any 危険，危なくする or inconvenience.

She ーするつもりであるd to go as companion or governess in some really 井戸／弁護士席-placed family, or au pair and, 井戸／弁護士席 dressed, with plentiful pocket money and good introductions, she thought that she could easily enough marry some man who would support her in 緩和する for the 残り／休憩（する） of her life in a gay, sunny, amusing city.

Mrs. George Rue had 認可するd of her 計画（する）—but for the 未来—"You must stay with me until I die, Olivia"—and Mrs. George Rue would give her introductions both in フラン and Italy—"Como," Olivia Sacret had once said, "I should like to go to Como"—and then it appeared that the old woman knew the very best and most useful people in Lombardy.

It should not be so difficult to wait, and it would be so much wiser and safer to wait, until the last echoes of the "Clapham Mystery" had died away. Though the missionary's 未亡人 had never realized how 悪名高い she had become through the 圧力（をかける）, she was aware that a lapse of time would be advisable before she tried to 伸び（る） an 入ること／参加（者） into any society where she would be likely to find the 肉親，親類d of husband she 願望（する）d. Yet how dull this life—this waiting—would the old woman die soon? How much would she leave her, Olivia Sacret, to make her "comfortable"?

"I have put in the paper—the Morning 地位，任命する—that you are staying with me at the Cedars, dear. I thought that now all that horrid スキャンダル is over, it would be nice for you—to have it known that you were staying with me."

"Oh, I suppose so. Thank you. Yes, it will be useful." Mrs. Sacret was indeed pleased by, if scornful of, this piece of foolishness. Certainly it should help her in the 未来 to have been 公然と 布告するd as the prot馮馥 of Mrs. George Rue.

"It is 半端物 how little I understood you. I always thought of you as rather a hard sort of woman. I should never have guessed you would have had these 感情s."

"感情s?"

"I mean—taking me to live with you and bothering yourself with Curtis, who really looks after me more than anything else. We must, both of us, be an 追加するd expense to you—for nothing."

"I have poor Susan's money—and it isn't for nothing—"

"It was really your son's money, Mrs. Rue. I think you make too much of Susan's 活動／戦闘—She was 豊富な enough even after she had given up her second husband's fortune."

"Yes. But she need not have given that money to me," replied the old lady obstinately. "It shows she was a good woman."

It shows that you are senile, thought the other woman, to feel so, to 許す your pity to overpower your judgment—and she longed to tell Mrs. George Rue that her earlier 見積（る） of her daughter-in-法律's character had been the 訂正する one, and to recount the story of the letters and how Susan and Sir John had both committed 偽証.

But she could not do this; not only would such a bald 声明 of the truth 明らかにする／漏らす herself as a blackmailer, it would mean the loss of the patronage of her 雇用者 and with it all she had of 緩和する.

She could not 完全に 支配（する）／統制する a shade of irritation crossing her comely 直面する and turned this off by 発言／述べるing on the heat of the oppressive evening.

"Yes, indeed," agreed Mrs. George Rue. "I think it makes me worse. Dr. Balance tries to 安心させる me and Dr. Virtue is very 肉親，親類d, but I am sure that my heart is worse—いつかs I can hardly breathe. I 推定する／予想する I shall have to have a nurse at night."

"Are you as ill as that?" asked Olivia Sacret shrewdly and quickly.

"I've never 回復するd from my son's death and all the shocks and horrors. It could not be 推定する／予想するd at my age. It killed poor Susan and it will kill me."

Looking aside across the comfortable room, the missionary's 未亡人 had the other woman's 直面する before her mind, a leaden 直面する, with lilac 影をつくる／尾行するs around 注目する，もくろむs and lips; a 直面する already like the countenance of the dead; it was true, also, that the old woman's breathing was more labored, that she moved ever more clumsily, that she had lapses of memory and spoke in a very rambling fashion いつかs about the past, when Mrs. Sacret had not known her; it might 井戸／弁護士席 be that she was not going to live long. The missionary's 未亡人 felt cheerful at this prospect and was able to throw a warm, 同情的な 公式文書，認める into her 発言する／表明する, as she 表明するd her 関心 as to her 雇用者's health.

"You must not bother yourself about me, after my son's death I had nothing to live for—save to see 司法（官） done. I 遂行するd that when I took you and Curtis to live with me."

If you like to think so, the better for me, thought Mrs. Sacret contemptuously, while she smiled on the old woman, who laid her large, soft 手渡す on her companion's 膝.

"I want you to know, my dear, how I am looking after you—you'll have ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs and all my 宝石類."

The missionary's 未亡人 紅潮／摘発するd with 楽しみ; she had never 推定する／予想するd any such sum as ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs.

"Don't thank me—I've talked too much, there—give me my 減少（する）s—on the sideboard there—"

Mrs. Sacret 設立する and 治めるd the 薬／医学 to the old woman, who appeared to her to be 沈むing into a lethargy. Her 激しい lace cap, 栄冠を与えるd by 屈服するs of 黒人／ボイコット 略章, fell to one 味方する, and the missionary's 未亡人 smiled at the ridiculous 人物／姿／数字 the stout, clumsy creature made. She herself felt superior, 積極的な; 激怒（する） and 勝利 mingled in her dark regard—these pampered rich people who had had everything and who were such fools—Susan and Susan's mother-in-法律, and Susan's husband, all of them—fools.

"Your 薬／医学 doesn't seem to 緩和する you much," she 発言／述べるd when Mrs. George Rue had gasped 負かす／撃墜する her dose.

"No—I wish I had some of the draughts my son used to （不足などを）補う," murmured the 無効の faintly. "He was so clever at that. I suppose you never saw his hempen basket at the Old Priory—before the sale?"

"No, of course not. I think the police took it. I wonder that you care to について言及する it," replied Mrs. Sacret, "for it was from that Indian basket he must have got the 致命的な drink."

"Oh, no, antimony killed him—he must have taken that from the stables!" muttered Mrs. George Rue stupidly.

"Yes, of course, that was the 医療の 証拠, though I don't think the doctors knew what they were talking about—" curiosity 誘発するd Mrs. Sacret to 追加する, what now seemed a 安全な question seeing how feeble and stupid her onetime enemy had become—"How do you really think your son （機の）カム by his end—if Susan was a good woman?"

"Yes, of course she was a good woman, that is why I keep you and Curtis, out of 尊敬（する）・点 to her memory," muttered the old woman, わずかに swaying to and fro.

She is failing, thought the missionary's 未亡人. No 疑問 she will die very suddenly. Ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs! I wonder if I can be sure of that.

Mrs. George Rue continued her 厚い whispering. "She was foolish and he was jealous—that was all there was to it—but she was a good woman—"

With uncontrollable malice 誘発するd by this senseless repetition "a good woman," Olivia Sacret interrupted:

"How do you know that she—this good woman—did not give him the 毒（薬） herself? I did not wish to hear 証拠 against her, but I saw her—that night—申し込む／申し出 him a glass of something that he drank and he was taken ill almost at once. How 平易な for her to pretend the sherry made her drowsy! She never told anyone of that last drink—'

"She told me." The old woman's indifferent admission, after a moment's silence, surprised Mrs. Sacret かなり. "But she made nothing of it. Oh, dear no, she often said, 'I remember giving him a posset,' yes, I think she said posset, 'and then I don't remember any more—and there couldn't have been any 害（を与える） in the posset because it was just a sedative he had often had before, that Olivia had brought from Jamaica.'" Mrs. George Rue coughed and mumbled. "I remember you told me once about that sedative—your husband's favorite sleeping draught. Wasn't that 権利?"

"Yes, certainly," replied the missionary's 未亡人 coolly. "I often mixed it for Susan. I used it myself いつかs, but she could have 追加するd something to it—"

"Antimony—but she never went to the stables?" said Mrs. George Rue stupidly.

"It is a ありふれた horse 薬／医学, to be 設立する in any stables," smiled Olivia Sacret. "I suppose your good Susan could have spent a day in the country."

"A day in the country?"

"Yes—and slipped away to the stables—or someone, perhaps Sir John, might have given it to her in an envelope—" Mrs. Sacret checked herself, and then was ashamed of her own alarm, for the old woman was suddenly asleep. She had heard very little, it seemed, and understood nothing of this conversation. She irritated her companion by her stupidity, even though this senile dullness was so much to her, Olivia Sacret's, advantage. Mrs. Sacret moved slowly to the door and 発言／述べるd over her shoulder, "She might have worn a green and crimson dress and 指名するd herself Madame Dupont from the schoolbooks—and taken a day in the country with a painter—"

She paused and ちらりと見ることd with contempt at the 甚だしい／１２ダース 人物／姿／数字 in the shawls and scarves, 密談する／（身体を）寄せ集めるd in the winged 議長，司会を務める, asleep and snoring, a clumsy 輪郭（を描く） against the 審査する of dull gold leather, then softly left the room and, at her leisure, pulled the 製図／抽選 room bell and when the maid （機の）カム, bade her send Curtis to her mistress.

ｧ 57

Mrs. George Rue showed Olivia Sacret her will. True it was, 始める，決める out 明確に—ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs and my jewels to Olivia Sacret, the faithful companion of my dear son's late wife during the period of her undeserved misfortunes, and one thousand to Emma Curtis.

The missionary's 未亡人 considered it wise to 受託する this bounty meekly and gratefully. Though the 尊敬の印 to Susan 困らすd her, she let it pass. It was better, she felt, not to 危険 any その上の 試みる／企てる to 爆破 the dead woman's character. Mrs. George Rue was plainly dying and, as plainly, had hardly heard what her companion had said on the 支配する of her son's death and what she had heard had utterly forgotten. On this and other 事柄s, she had but this one obsession—賠償 to Susan through Olivia Sacret and Curtis. Dr. Balance, in たびたび（訪れる） 出席 at the Cedars, 保証するd Mrs. Sacret that her 雇用者's 現在の 明言する／公表する "could not last long," and the companion kept up a decorous 出席 on the 無効の, who now no longer left her bed, and whose one coherent 活動／戦闘 during days of wandering memory and aimless monologues was to send to her bank for some of her jewels. She had the 向こうずねing leather 事例／患者s 打ち明けるd and the rubies and diamonds laid out on her crimson bed quilt.

"They are far too 罰金 for me," whispered Olivia Sacret with a flashing smile.

Mrs. George Rue muttered that the pieces were very old fashioned, but could be reset, and Curtis respectfully 取って代わるd the 厚い bracelets, 激しい brooches and 大規模な earrings on their pearl-gray silk linings. Olivia Sacret could not forbear a thrust at the servant who had once been her public enemy.

"I hardly know how a poor missionary's 未亡人 will 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of such grand ornaments," she said, lowering her pleasant 発言する／表明する to a gentle softness.

The evening of the day she had been shown the jewels, Olivia Sacret's spirits were so high she could not 耐える the confinement of the Cedars, so silent, so 沈滞した, with the atmosphere of illness, for a nurse kept guard in Mrs. George Rue's 議会, and the 国内の staff were shut away behind the stout baize-lined doors at the 最高の，を越す of the kitchen stairs.

A 激しい, dull house, though comfortable, not ふさわしい to her mood and her prospects; she had nowhere to go, no possible companion, she 反映するd that probably there was no one in London more 孤立するd than she was, but her mood was cheerful.

She would soon get away, and have 力／強力にする, the 力／強力にする of money, and her own strong personality and 実験（する）d charms. She was the woman of the portrait painted in the Minton Street house.

She stepped into the garden of the Cedars, then into the street, then の上に the ヒース／荒れ地. The 星／主役にするs showed faintly in a paling sky. There was a 冷気／寒がらせる in the 空気／公表する, she walked 速く, the 血 coming into her cheeks as she held her 長，率いる high to the 微風.

At first she took no 注意する of the commonplace 人物／姿／数字 also enjoying the evening 空気／公表する, in the Quaker gray jacket and 一連の会議、交渉／完成する hat, who walked some paces ahead of her on the rough town grass; then he had fallen into step beside her and whispered: "How long you have kept me waiting!"

Mrs. Sacret stood still and smiled. She 保証するd herself that she had been really 推定する／予想するing this, she then glided into step beside him and he, with a touch on her arm, turned her steps in the direction in which he wished her to go.

"I thought you had left the country—sailed from Liverpool."

"I 手配中の，お尋ね者—them—to think so. I 二塁打d 支援する and threw them off the scent. I've lain 静かな for a long time."

She listened 熱望して to this whispered explanation that told her nothing.

"Was it 価値（がある） while—because of those wretched trunks? Why did you take them—and forsake me? Oh, that dreadful day at the 鉄道 駅／配置する!"

"You cannot suppose that I meant to trick you? I fell in with a friend—became 伴う／関わるd in his trouble—"

"News of the 暗黒街, eh?"

"If you like, you always knew where I belonged. I was robbed of some of your 所有物／資産／財産 that I fetched from the 倉庫・駅 for you."

"I saw the green and crimson dress—worn by a slut. She gave it to the police."

"But they are on a dead 追跡する. I am やめる 安全な, though I ーするつもりである to leave the country soon, for Italy. And you, are you 安全な?"

Mrs. Sacret was surprised at this question. "安全な? Oh, everyone has forgotten about ツバメ Rue's death, and Susan's 自殺. Besides, I never was in danger—or only for a breath—why should I be in danger?" She laughed and told him of Mrs. George Rue's expiation. "She is dying and will leave me ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs and her 宝石類—"

He sighed, "Why that spoils my 計画（する）—I have your 所有物／資産／財産—all but the few articles stolen from me, and some other money and I have been に引き続いて you—and waiting for this chance, to ask you to come to Como, or Florence, or Paris—after all."

He opened a 狭くする gate in a brick 塀で囲む and she saw they had reached their 目的地, the disused burial ground of some obscure Christian sect. All the headstones were plainly 形態／調整d and 始める，決める in 列／漕ぐ／騒動s, by the far 塀で囲む stood some poplar trees, their 上向き reaching boughs, on which the leaves still ぱたぱたするd, showed dark against a sunset sky of pale green light.

"I never knew of this," he murmured. "You'll think I did and （機の）カム 支援する for the money."

"You could not have known about the will. You knew Mrs. George Rue was 保護するing me."

He interrupted. "No, how could I be aware of that? I have been 徹底的に捜すing London for you. And いつかs hung about the ヒース／荒れ地 thinking that you might be visiting the old woman. I saw you first, a fortnight or so ago, followed you and lost you. So seldom you are out alone in the evening. I have had to be very 患者 同様に as watchful."

He spoke more 謙虚に than she had ever known him to speak before and this fed her sense of 力／強力にする. She had 勝利d not only over the fools, but over the clever rogue 同様に, if rogue and clever he was. She hardly cared now if he had robbed and tricked her or not. He had returned to her through no 成果／努力 on her part and was, she considered, at her mercy; she might easily 公然と非難する him to the police for the 窃盗 of her trunks. Probably he was 手配中の，お尋ね者 for other 罪，犯罪s 同様に—but what did that 事柄? The little golden dream had returned to her, she toyed with it—Italy with this 入り口ing companion at her feet—or Italy, or any part of the world, with her own money and respectable introductions, and the search for a respectable husband. 一方／合間, she could not resist 誇るing. As they paced along between the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大なs in the 少なくなるing light, she told him, with zest, of how 適切に she had fooled the absurd old woman who had once been her enemy, and how another enemy, the once insolent Curtis, was now at her service.

"I am 疲れた／うんざりした of 審理，公聴会 her speak of the wretched Susan as a good woman—I even 示唆するd that Susan had given her husband the dose—as, of course, she did—and 示唆するd she might have been given the stuff during a visit to the country when she was 指名するd, out of a whim, Madame Dupont!"

"That was 無分別な."

"Oh, she is senile and understood nothing! And I could not resist the 誘惑 to laugh a little—everything is so dull at the Cedars! Of course, I was alone with her—and I never repeated the jest. Madame Dupont, that old schoolbook 指名する is so 半端物!"

He 圧力（をかける）d her arm.

"It is 確かな that we shall not be 乱すd here—no one comes here. These dead are truly forgotten forever. But you must not stay away too long from the old woman."

At these words Olivia Sacret felt a を刺す of terror at the prospect of returning to that dull, 静かな house.

"May I know where to find you she asked, trembling.

"That would not be 安全な—nor possible. I am in a different place every night."

The missionary's 未亡人 sighed, as the 冷気／寒がらせる autumn night 微風 blew across her 直面する. She would never understand this man, nor his life, nor his hiding places. He was a 犯罪の who had robbed her, led her into danger and left her. She 厳しく pulled her arm away from his and began to reproach him 厳しく with mechanical 条件 of contempt.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席," he replied 静かに. "I shall go away. And this time it will be forever."

She was silent, considering these last words; he had 発言／述べるd of the unknown dead about them that they were "truly forgotten, forever." And then nothing seemed to 事柄 save that she should keep this precious companionship, at least for awhile, and on her own 条件—and it would be on her own 条件, since she had 力／強力にする over him, the 力／強力にする to bring him 支援する to her when she had nothing to 申し込む／申し出, for he could not have known of the good fortune of which she had so 熱望して told him. Thus she 推論する／理由d, feebly, and soon 推論する／理由 was silenced altogether and the words "truly forgotten, forever" echoed in her empty mind, while she returned her arm to the crook of his 肘.

"I will 会合，会う you again, and you know it," she whispered. "Here?"

"No, never the same place twice."

"Then I don't know how I can manage to see you—I can't leave the house too often."

"Nor would it be wise to do so. But I want to leave the country soon, and you to come with me—"

"I've little, or nothing, till the old woman dies."

"Do you want to wait for that?"

Mrs. Sacret did not hesitate in her reply. Though his enchantment held her, she would not run the 危険 of 存在 fooled twice.

"Yes, of course—do you think I can afford to lose that money? And I don't 約束 I'll come with you—I'll have to ponder over that. I might decide to remain respectable and make a good, 安定した match."

"You never will—"

"Oh, I don't know! You see, I am no longer afraid of you—I don't even know who you are and I am aware that the police are 追跡（する）ing you—but I like you, and I'm やめる sure of myself, and I'll 会合，会う you, just to know more of you and what a strange creature you must be—or may be—"

"That is all I ask. We've a wonderful second chance. I can 証明する to you that I was やめる loyal—and that I'm 手配中の，お尋ね者 for no trivial 罪，犯罪."

"Yes, that will be 利益／興味ing," she smiled, glowing with the consciousness of 力／強力にする; she looked up at him, his 直面する was hidden by the 影をつくる／尾行する of the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Quaker hat, and wondered why she had ever 恐れるd him. Why, she was like an 皇后 の中で them all, even this strange creature, once so formidable, was under her 支配.

"You must really care for me, love me, perhaps," she 発言／述べるd coolly.

"I want you. I have never met anyone like you. I'll marry you, if you wish. I am 解放する／自由な."

The missionary's 未亡人, in her self-信用／信任, laughed that aside. "Oh, I've told you, I may be looking for a steadier husband than you would ever be! And this time I shall keep my own money."

"You shall, indeed you shall."

"I mean to—now I must return to the Cedars."

The painter agreed to this 慎重な 解決する and together they left the 荒涼とした burial ground in the darkened street, after he had whispered to her directions as to when and where they should 会合，会う again, and how she was to communicate with him if she could not keep the 任命.

ｧ 58

It was hardly decorous for Mrs. Sacret to leave her 雇用者, who lay in a 明言する／公表する of insensibility from which. Dr. Balance said, she was not likely to 回復する, but she was 解決するd not to break her tryst with the painter. She would have liked to have written to him, but was too 用心深い to do so, or to show herself in the small toy and newspaper shop where, he had said, letters might be left for him under the 指名する of James Prince. She was excited by the different 指名するs he used, as by the change in him—how humble, almost imploring he had been in the 明らかにする burial ground!

Certainly she was 望ましい, and her vanity, the 冷淡な vanity of an unemotional woman, was most agreeably soothed. She fetched out the portrait and looked at it long before she 始める，決める out for the trysting place that was the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral. There, he had told her, they would not be noticed まっただ中に the to-and-froing of the sight-seers and the 崇拝者s. The time chosen was three o'clock in the afternoon and the day 証明するd to be fair and still.

Mrs. Sacret dressed herself in her quietest 控訴 of 嘆く／悼むing and dropped a 隠す over her 直面する. She told Curtis that she had an 任命 with her late husband's lawyer over some 所有物／資産／財産 in the West Indies and might be late as Blackheath was so far from the city. It was a plausible 嘘（をつく）, but she felt that Curtis did not believe her. The gray woman looked at her so sideways, with so （疑いを）晴らす and chilly a 星／主役にする.

"The mistress may be dead before you return, ma'am."

"I'm sorry—I've explained to Dr. Balance. This is an important 事柄 to me. Besides, I can do nothing—Mrs. George Rue doesn't even know me, and the nurse doesn't like me in the room—"

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, ma'am, I wish you good luck on your 旅行—a long, tedious 旅行, as you say, ma'am," and Curtis smiled as if at some strange and secret thought. Mrs. Sacret smiled 支援する.

"You need not be anxious lest she alter her will, eh? I know that is what you are thinking. Oh, she will die in her sleep and you are やめる 安全な!"

"Yes, ma'am, I am やめる 安全な."

ｧ 59

The missionary's 未亡人 regretted the days of the Old Priory; there was no chance of borrowing a carriage from the Cedars, though there were two in the stables. She had no "持つ／拘留する" over Mrs. George Rue—she 解任するd the letters, useless now, unless Sir John would 支払う／賃金 to have them 抑えるd. Did the painter still 所有する them? The word "ゆすり，恐喝" slid into her mind, and she 反映するd on it with astonishment. What had it to do with her?

She traveled by omnibus, changing twice, before she reached the city at half-past two o'clock. She had seldom been there and the 狭くする streets with the 激しい buildings seemed formidable, and she felt 目だつ as there were so few women about, and those few but cleaners or servants from pie shops. The 圧力（をかける） of hurrying men （海，煙などが）飲み込むd her and she was hideously reminded of the （人が）群がる at the 鉄道 駅／配置する when she had run about in a panic looking for a man she knew she would not find.

But as she 近づくd the monstrous cathedral she was いっそう少なく noticeable, as there were some women 開始するing the 広大な 石／投石する steps. She looked at them curiously, wondering what their errands might be.

She paused, looking about her 慎重に from behind the 黒人／ボイコット 隠す, moving slowly 上向きs, hesitating in the 広大な／多数の／重要な portico, then slowly downwards again, so that she mingled with the （人が）群がる and was unnoticed, for there were other women, three in crape and bombazine, …に出席するing, she supposed, some service for the dead—or were they sight-seers who chanced to be in 嘆く／悼むing? The idle question teased her, as she passed slowly up the steps. The 天候-beaten fa軋de, so high above her, the curve of the steps, 影響する／感情d her unpleasantly as had the long 向こうずねing 視野 of the 鉄道 lines disappearing from under the roof of the 駅／配置する. People had flowed in and out of the monstrous 鉄道 駅／配置する as they flowed in and out of the monstrous cathedral.

In the 駅／配置する they had hurried, here they climbed the steps slowly, but in each 事例／患者 they seemed to have reached a 目的地, to be （海，煙などが）飲み込むd in （人が）群がるs and lost. The word "terminus" （機の）カム into her mind. A word she had but rarely used. Here all ends, or rather changes.

She carefully scanned those about her for the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する hat and straight jacket of Quaker design. He might have chosen another disguise, but she knew his 外見 so 井戸／弁護士席 that she was sure that she would have （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd him in any 着せる／賦与するs.

A man in a tweed cape, passing の近くに to her, 負かす／撃墜する the steps of the cathedral, did attract her attention. His 直面する was turned from her and he was 急いでing away, but she thought she had seen Sergeant Precious. An 半端物 会合, if that were the policeman, but she made little of it—he no longer 代表するd any danger to her, and he was a likely person to have met in any part of London. Standing beside one of the 激しい 中心存在s, she 見解（をとる）d the people leaving and entering the 抱擁する dark building, and considered them contemptuously.

She was sure that 非，不，無 of them had been as clever as she had been in making something 価値（がある） while, exciting and important, out of a life that had been 奪うd of all its just 権利s. How easily everyone had been fooled—even now she was so easily deceiving old Mrs. Rue that it was almost tiresome. A fortune would 落ちる into her （競技場の）トラック一周 from her enemy, already she felt the jewels she would 相続する clasping her neck and wrists.

He was late, surely. She drew out the gold watch that she had 軍隊d Susan to give her and peered at the time; yes, nearly ten minutes late. The customs of her class were strong in her, it would never do for a lady alone to wait in a public place, even on the steps of a church. She lowered her 隠す and descended the steps; her thoughts flew wide. Old Mrs. Rue's talk of herself and Susan's 信用／信任 in her about the drink—ツバメ Rue's last drink. How strange that two women on such bad 条件 should have been so confidential—yet all could be accounted for by Susan's folly, she would confide anything, even to her enemy. It was lucky that neither of the stupid women 大（公）使館員d any importance to the 出来事/事件. Mrs. George Rue with her 疑惑s, her doctors and lawyers, her public denunciations, was almost feeble minded, and could not see an インチ before her nose.

Mrs. Sacret passed to the left of the cathedral, along a 狭くする passage. To her 権利 were some dark buildings. She thought they were a school, for boys were running in as if late, and there was a general jostle in which she felt 抑圧するd, the 外国人 idler. A 手渡す fell on her arm; she looked up into the commonplace countenance of Sergeant Precious.

"I have something to say to you, Mrs. Sacret."

"井戸／弁護士席, this is a strange place to choose!"

"I didn't want to make any 肉親，親類d of 動かす or trouble at the Cedars."

This seemed a sensible answer and it soothed Mrs. Sacret's faint 疑惑s.

"Of course not—but how did you find me?" It did not occur to her that she might have been followed; she was so 平易な in her mind and 良心. Sergeant Precious thought it 十分な to say: "No better place than a （人が）群がる—let us get （疑いを）晴らす of these young gentlemen—I know a little coffeehouse just on Cheapside."

"I never go to such places—and I am late already for an 任命."

"Still, you'll come with me," said Sergeant Precious with 当局, and she thought it wise to follow him 静かに.

ｧ 60

They sat 直面するing one another, on either 味方する of a stained （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, in a 木造の compartment. Mrs Sacret sipped some unpalatable coffee and thought of God and Sin, long absent from her 計算／見積りs, for she had so often heard her husband and the chapel people speak with disgust of these drinking places. She could not see another woman in the place and became restive and indignant as Sergeant Precious drank his beer from the pewter tankard.

But his first words were admirably direct and at once held her attention.

"The police have been tracing a very clever 犯罪の for a 疲れた／うんざりした time. It would be to your 利益／興味 to help them."

"ゆすり，恐喝"—the word seemed written in the 空気／公表する between them—how much did the police know? Mrs. Sacret sent her mind racing after probabilities, 可能性s—she had forgotten so much herself and, worse, had become 混乱させるd.

"I don't know a 犯罪の."

"示す Bellis was the 指名する he gave you. And there is no time—literally no time—for words. I'm giving you a 警告. He's after you because of the money Mrs. Rue is leaving you."

"He did not know that—" she began, when Sergeant Precious gently interrupted her. "That gives you away, don't it, ma'am? It was in the paper—about a rich woman 可決する・採択するing you. He saw that. He is slippery, and may get away again. A number of confederates, also. 井戸／弁護士席, you 配達する him to us, and we'll let you go—if you leave the country quickly—"

"I don't see—"

"It has all been there for you to see, all the time. He's a 殺害者, maybe insane. Very low 肉親，親類d of scoundrel, from the foundling home, then at sea. He killed an old man and his housekeeper for their 貯金 and got away. Clever, plausible. We have got the story pretty 井戸／弁護士席 put together."

"Not my story—"

"Do keep your 発言する／表明する low, ma'am, whispering, like I do—I shan't be a minute. While he was 存在 searched for in フラン and Italy—where he had been, mind you, he 二塁打d 支援する, under our noses in another disguise. He knows where the antimony （機の）カム from and so do you. But that is over, if you choose."

"Nonsense," murmured Mrs. Sacret, 圧力（をかける）ing her clasped 手渡すs into her 隠すd 直面する.

"Only if you choose ゆすり，恐喝 and 殺人 if you like—従犯者 also to these other 罪，犯罪s, if you 固執する in 隠すing him now."

"You can't find him." She felt a sudden delight in the painter's cleverness, yet she had already decided to betray him to insure her own safety. She dared not now, in this public place, 推測する on what the police knew.

"No. We traced him to 会合s with you—twice—but he escaped—always a cab to jump into—he keeps several horses. A hundred years ago they would have said he had a familiar or was himself a 四肢 of Satan."

"How did you begin to connect him with me

"The woman Feathers and the dress you wore when he took you to the country. A freakish thing to do; he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to fetch the stuff—but why do it that way Sergeant Precious touched his 長，率いる as if to denote something deranged in the 犯罪の's brain.

"He is cleverer than you," said Mrs. Sacret, putting her thoughts into words.

"And than you. Don't think he'll ever go abroad with you—he'll （土地などの）細長い一片 you and slip away."

"He has already done that—and now I'm—" she checked herself, laughed and 追加するd. "Yes, the second time. My life is so dull and no one ever cared for me, he was really 利益／興味d. Can't you let us alone?"

"I told you he was a 殺害者."

"So you did. I don't suppose it is 証明するd. The old, ugly, tedious people. He is a very clever painter." She rose. "Don't think I am going to 会合，会う him now, I （機の）カム up to London on 合法的な 商売／仕事 and had a curiosity to visit the cathedral. I am Church of England again."

"Very 利益／興味ing, ma'am." Sergeant Precious also rose, placing the money 予定 on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "I think you meant to 会合，会う him and something 脅すd him from coming. So seeing you waiting, I decided to talk to you. We've waited long enough."

"I am returning at once to the Cedars," said Mrs. Sacret, "in a 飛行機で行く."

"No 疑問—but remember you must give him up. He is hidden, but you are not. No more grace, the 事例／患者 is 完全にする."

"What am Ito do?"

"Play your part a little longer, then make a tryst with him—and 知らせる us." He 手渡すd her a square of paper. "At that 演説（する）／住所. さもなければ the ツバメ Rue 事例／患者 will be 再開するd for the second time. Now, pray leave this place by yourself in 事例／患者 some of his 秘かに調査するs are about, though I had everything 井戸／弁護士席 watched."

恐れる for herself made her say—"I don't know where he lives—I have to wait until he communicates with me."

"He will, because of the money; now you've been there long enough, ma'am."

"Don't 非難する me if I fail." She slipped the pasteboard into her bosom, behind the crape ruffles—She must be careful it was not seen at the Cedars where she still had to play her part.

ｧ 61

Mrs. Sacret was extraordinarily tired, only the sense of her own cleverness kept her 警報. The 状況／情勢 was, she felt, 混乱させるing. The police on their 跡をつける after such a long period of 安全 was an ugly fact difficult to realize. Yet she could not 裁判官 the extent of the knowledge held by Sergeant Precious and she was hardly 負かす／撃墜する Ludgate Hill before the interview with him in the coffeehouse seemed as unreal as that visit to the country mansion where she had been Madame Dupont. She could nor find a hackney driver who would take her to Blackheath and she had lost the 駅／配置する. She wandered in a strange city where, with what seemed astonishing rapidity, 不明瞭 の近くにd on the streets and the lamplighters made their 一連の会議、交渉／完成するs, jerking the gas jets into luminous globes.

She would have to obey the police and betray him. She settled the card more securely inside her stiff bodice, behind the whaleboned corsage. But his fascination for her was not altered. It had been a falsehood about the 殺人s, of course, told 単に to shock her into fearful submission. 殺人s? Her mind echoed the word and joined it with the death of ツバメ Rue, with the death of Susan, then 揺さぶるd on again. She knew nothing of that, no one could 証明する anything. No one. 自殺 in each 事例／患者. The police 申し込む／申し出d no reward. Where would she be when she had 配達するd the painter to them? 解放する／自由な to leave the country—penniless and alone. She sighed 激しく, thinking how 異なって she had dreamed it all. But there was the dying old woman and her money; surely she, the brilliant, astute Olivia Sacret could continue to keep the police at bay until she 安全な・保証するd that fortune. How stupid of them not to have put Mrs. George Rue on her guard against her and her ゆすり，恐喝 that this former enemy had long ago 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd.

How little any of it had availed—so much 暴力／激しさ, so many lies, such intricate 計画／陰謀ing, and she was where she had been, a poor missionary's 未亡人. It was all the fault of her parents, who had brought her up so 貧しく, who had cheated her so cruelly, who had never given her a chance.

She made her way home, using that word in her mind, with no sense of how grotesque it was in her 事例／患者. She 行方不明になるd the direction several times, taking the wrong omnibus, and then the wrong train. Her extreme physical 疲労，（軍の）雑役 produced an exhilaration in her mind; she again saw hope. Old Mrs. Rue would die soon, and leave her all that money, how much had she said? Olivia could not remember, she was わずかに light 長，率いるd, but she was sure it was thousands and thousands of 続けざまに猛撃するs. And jewels, too. This time there would be no one to 略奪する her, as she had before been robbed of the bracelet, the 着せる／賦与するs, the gold. 解任するing that, she felt a 殺到する of 憎悪 against the painter. These seemed the worst of his 罪，犯罪s. A thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs in gold, was it not? Or had Susan cheated? Surely that sum in gold would have been too 激しい to carry. She had been cheated then, no 疑問. Everyone had cheated her. Now she might have a little luck, just a little luck.

If she could get that fortune from the doting old woman she could go abroad after all—Paris, Como—what other place had he について言及するd?

She would be alone, but she would be very shrewd and careful. No adventurer should get 持つ／拘留する of her and deceive her again. She might take some respectable, 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な woman with her, perhaps even the browbeaten Curtis who had once been so insolent but who now 急いでd 謙虚に at her service. Yes, Curtis might do, to tyrannize over, she would be cheap, too, past her work, and glad to come for a pittance. She had to cross a corner of the ヒース／荒れ地, a darkling space, that reminded her of the ありふれた. For a second 逮捕 touched her, supposing he had followed her? Seen her with the 探偵，刑事? He or his 秘かに調査するs? He must be skillful to be 捕まらないで so long. There were 独房監禁 人物／姿／数字s in the distance moving through the twilight, he might be one of them. He was 手配中の，お尋ね者 for 殺人. For 殺人.

Olivia 急いでd, yet she was not 脅すd for long. Her uppermost thought was for the money. That was like an obsession with her, to get away, with money. She had been 近づく the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れるs today, ships were there, waiting to sail all over the world...

She knocked at the door of Mrs. George Rue's house, forgetting that she had a 重要な. The fa軋de rose like a dark 激しく揺する against the faintly luminous sky. The windows were unlit, and each seemed gaping 黒人／ボイコット 穴を開けるs の上に an abyss.

Curtis opened the door, with her アイロンをかける-colored dress and hair, with her sallow 直面する, she was barely distinguishable from the 不明瞭 of the hall.

"Is she dead?" asked Olivia, speaking her thought aloud.

"Come in," said the servant softly, and, as Olivia crossed the threshold, she の近くにd the door behind her, slowly, carefully she clicked the latch into place.

"Is who dead, ma'am?"

"Oh, I should not have put it like that. I have 行方不明になるd my way—so much trouble for nothing—"

"You'll get something for your—"

"What do you mean? I am very tired, I feel やめる stupid. Is your mistress very ill? She must be—dying, I suppose."

"Come upstairs and see her—"

"How can I, in the dark. I tell you I am very tired."

Curtis pulled 負かす／撃墜する the gas bracket, the metal chain clanked. The match ゆらめくd and the acrid yellow 炎上 spread fan 形態／調整 in the opal globe that the servant returned to its place, shedding a 恐ろしい light on the 狭くする hall, with the 激しい umbrella stand and hatrack and the engraving of the "Stag at Bay" in the bird's-注目する，もくろむ maple でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる.

"Yes, you do look tired, really ill," 発言／述べるd Curtis 星／主役にするing 熱心に at Olivia Sacret.

This was a return to her former manner, insolence touched with malice, but Mrs. Sacret was too tired to resent that. She leaned against the 塀で囲む of 向こうずねing brown paper with a hateful pattern of lilies in diamonds varnished darkly. A foolish image of herself as a salvia—had not he, the 殺人d man, no, not that, she must not use that word, the dead man—said she looked like a salvia, puce, scarlet, crimson? And then it had withered to a 乾燥した，日照りの stick. Then the picture of herself as she had 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be, and the street girl walking away in her rich 着せる／賦与するs. She suddenly remembered the trunk, with the gray hairs inside, and how twice she had searched it for some luxurious 捨てる. Now she knew what it had once 含む／封じ込めるd. At last.

"Shall I help you upstairs?" asked Curtis. "She—the mistress—wants to see you. She has been やめる anxious about you 存在 away so long."

"I did not have 十分な food," murmured Mrs. Sacret. "That was it, just a cup of coffee and a morsel, yes, that was it, a morsel of something or other—" she paused, for she felt giddy and had difficulty with her speech. "But Mrs. Rue was unconscious when I left. I thought—"

"That she wouldn't 回復する? You've made a few mistakes, 港／避難所't you? Here, take my arm, you are 貧しく."

Olivia clutched at the stiff poplin sleeve 申し込む／申し出d to her. All this was disagreeable, but the senile old woman must be dying, and then there would be freedom and money—Como, Paris.

Curtis helped her up the stairs. As they were 狭くする the women trod on each other's skirts, 開始するing awkwardly, the servant supporting Olivia, up, into the 不明瞭. In the same manner had Curtis gone up with Mrs. Rue to find Susan lying by her bed.

"Why was not the gas lit?" asked Olivia as they reached the first 上陸 and were beyond the sickly glow of the hall lamp. "I suppose you have lights in the bedroom? Is a nurse with her?"

Without replying Curtis opened the door into the 製図／抽選 room that was filled by the dull glow of an oil lamp, with a pink glass globe on which were engraved ferns. Mrs. George Rue sat in her usual armchair, carefully dressed in her 未亡人's 少しのd, a box of mauve cachets in her 手渡す.

She looked like a toad, Olivia's thought darted, 脅すd through 混乱, a toad, toadflax, spotted, blotched, pale, with very lively 注目する，もくろむs.

"I was beginning to 恐れる you might not return, but you are too stupid to take a 警告," 発言／述べるd Mrs. Rue. "You returned, of course, hoping to find me dying or dead and the money yours—"

Olivia, 押し進めるd aside by Curtis, つまずくd into a 議長，司会を務める 直面するing Mrs. Rue who sat with the large 審査する she used to 保護する her against 草案s behind her. Olivia noticed that this was covered with 捨てるs, children feeding rabbits, lambs in daisied fields, dogs with tartan 屈服するs, all varnished in place like the wallpaper in the hall.

"Yes, I do feel stupid," she murmured weakly. "I am tired—I'm glad you are feeling better—" she tried to smile.

"I was not ill. I've played a long waiting game. I've been in touch with the police for months."

"Why does Curtis stay? Standing in 前線 of the door like that?"

"She wants to hear what I have to say. Curtis was behind the 審査する that day you spoke so rashly to me, about my son's 薬／医学."

"I don't remember anything about that."

"It doesn't 事柄. You were 平易な to deceive. The police will get him sooner or later. For all his cunning, he was 誘惑するd by that notice in the paper."

"I don't know what you mean," Olivia listened to the rain that in a burst of sound was drumming on the roof of the porch.

"I mean the 殺害者 who is your 共犯者. I suppose you didn't see him today?"

"No, no."

"But you saw Sergeant Precious. The police have been に引き続いて you for days."

"What is that to you?" Olivia ちらりと見ることd from one to the other of the gray, sallow, vindictive 直面するs. "Why are you doing this? You hated Susan—"

"Maybe I did. But you cheated me of the chance to tell her I was mistaken. She gave me 支援する ツバメ's money—"

"Always the money," sneered Olivia, trying to rise but 落ちるing 支援する.

"Yes, you have come 支援する here, for the money now, 港／避難所't you? But there is nothing for you. Nothing."

"Nothing but your 罰," said Curtis.

"Why should I be punished?" Olivia contrived to rise and 直面するd them, 星／主役にするing from one to the other.

"You believe in 罰, don't you? You talked much of God once, you and your chapel ways. 罰, yes, and Hell, too."

"You せねばならない be dying! You せねばならない be dead!" cried Olivia. "This is all a cheat! Everyone cheats me! Everyone. Why did you pretend to be so ill?"

"平易な to trick you now, blindly greedy and stupid—"

"If I'd known you were deceiving me—" Olivia's lips 広げるd into a convulsive grin.

"You'd have 設立する some more 毒（薬）?" put in Curtis はっきりと. "We thought of that and took good care."

"You were a fool not to know 憎悪 when it was all about you," said Mrs. Rue, munching her mauve cachets slowly.

"What do you want to do with me?" asked Olivia. "I'm on the 安全な 味方する of the 法律. I'm 事実上の／代理 for the police," she touched her bosom. "I have the 探偵，刑事's card here—"

"I thought you would betray your 共犯者. But it won't avail you.

"Yes, yes, it will. I shall get a reward. Of course, I never knew. I've only just put two and two together—the trunk—"

"Never mind the trunk. It is what you put in my son's drink that 事柄s to me and the way you hounded Susan to her death, and she was a good woman, after all."

"Then you are a fool, stupid—she was a trollop—"

"What a low word to use!" smiled Mrs. Rue. "But of course I always knew you were not a lady."

Curtis had 紅潮／摘発するd darkly and 前進するd on Olivia.

"I'd stand hours in the rain—coming 負かす／撃墜する like it is now—to see you on the gallows," she cried.

The three women, now の近くに together, 星／主役にするd at one another in silent loathing, exhausted by the emotions behind this 早い conversation. Olivia writhed, as if in a 罠（にかける）, as if something was 粘着するing to her skirts and bringing her 負かす／撃墜する into a 炭坑，オーケストラ席. A 炭坑，オーケストラ席 I dug for myself, she thought with incoherent memories of the chapel.

"Now you can go," said Mrs. Rue at length, with a sigh. "Now—as you stand, without food or drink or 残り／休憩（する） or 一時的休止，執行延期, or money or even your luggage."

"I won't—This—this is monstrous."

"I am やめる strong. With the help of Curtis I shall put you out. The house is lonely. And I don't suppose you will care to knock up the neighbors with your tale."

Seeing an inflexible 憎悪 in the 注目する，もくろむs of both mistress and maid, Olivia made an 成果／努力 at dignity.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席. I shall go to the police. I am under their 保護. They may give me a reward."

"For betraying your 共犯者?" 発言／述べるd Mrs. Rue. "Not likely But you can try."

Olivia moistened her lips and ちらりと見ることd at Curtis who did not move from the door.

"What is your 意向 with me?" she asked. "What have you been planning for, working for, ever since you began to deceive me?'

"A waste of breath these questions. I suppose you are afraid to go where you sent my son and Susan?"

"Where was that?" whispered Olivia stupidly.

"You せねばならない know—with your missionary training." A spasm distorted the old woman's 激しい 直面する. "Into the dark, at least. It isn't so 平易な to believe in Heaven when those you want are gone and don't answer when you call."

"Why should you want to live?" whispered Curtis curiously, turning a frowning brow toward Olivia. "My mistress had 原因（となる）—young, pretty, and good, no 害（を与える） in her—but you—"

"I do want to live!" cried Mrs. Sacret. "Anyhow, anywhere—You said I might go—why don't you stand away from the door? I'll do what I can to help you, I'll go to the police 駅／配置する, I'll 補助装置 the 探偵，刑事, it was all his fault, the wicked man—I fell into the 力／強力にする of a rogue, yes, if you'll let me go, I'll run at once to the police 駅／配置する!"

"She thinks we are going to kill her," smiled Mrs. Rue nodding across the faintly lit gloom toward Curtis. "So you'll run at once to the police 駅／配置する? But it is the other 味方する of the ヒース／荒れ地 and a dark night, no moon and the rain coming 負かす／撃墜する."

"I don't mind, only let me go—"

"Let her go, Curtis."

The gray servant moved from the door. 救済 発射 energy into Olivia's 四肢s that ached with 疲労，（軍の）雑役. She 安定したd herself, mechanically adjusting her bonnet.

"You are very glad to escape, aren't you?" 発言／述べるd Mrs. Rue. "Very thankful to leave Curtis and myself in this lonely house—all the other servants are out of the way, they always are on these occasions, you'll have noticed that—You are so thankful to escape that you don't notice that you are hungry and tired, and dizzy—yes, you're やめる giddy, you know, and still don't understand very 明確に."

Mrs. Sacret crept around along the 塀で囲む to the door, supporting herself by outspread 手渡すs. How she had always detested this room, so dreary, such atrocious taste, like Susan's house, very different from the place she had meant to have in Como, Paris, where was it?

Curtis was standing aside to 許す her to pass. This seemed incredible, for the two women in their 激しい 静かな were murderous.

Surely 恐れる （太陽，月の）食／失墜d her 憎悪 of them, she 手配中の，お尋ね者 to thank them, to cringe, to 保証する them that she meant no 害（を与える）—"I was inexperienced and I had bad advice, I 欠如（する）d a friend."

"The police 駅／配置する," repeated Mrs. Rue, "is on the other 味方する of the ヒース／荒れ地."

Mrs. Sacret paused. Curtis had stretched her arm across the door.

"Your 共犯者 did not keep his 任命," 追加するd the old woman, "that was because he saw you with the 探偵，刑事. What do you suppose he felt, this 犯罪の, at your betrayal?"

Mrs. Sacret remembered those half-seen 人物／姿／数字s in the twilight on the ヒース／荒れ地 as she had made her way to the Cedars.

"I shall be 安全な at the police 駅／配置する," she murmured.

"You won't get there," smiled Mrs. Rue. "He'll be waiting for you."

"Oh, you think that he followed me!"

"I do. You are the おとり for the police now, they'll be watching wherever you are, to catch him, that is why they let you go today—"

"Then I am 安全な—I shall be 保護するd."

"I have to 危険 that. Of course, the police have had you 影をつくる／尾行するd for a long time in the hopes of catching him, but he's been too clever. Now there is a chance he will be so inflamed by your treachery that he won't be so 慎重な—"

"He didn't follow me!" cried Olivia. "No one followed me! He did not follow me—"

"How do you know? It was nearly dark when you arrived, but too light for him to have attacked you. Open the door, Curtis."

The servant obeyed, the 不明瞭 of the stairs showed, with a glimpse of the gaslight in the hall.

Olivia drew 支援する.

"I can't go. The rain. As if it would never stop," she muttered.

"That is what children say, 'as if it would never stop.' It will 中止する but perhaps you won't be there when the clouds break."

"I won't go. You can't do this. I know that he would kill me—"

"Of course, as he killed the others—" nodded old Mrs. Rue, her crape bonnet casting a wavering 影をつくる／尾行する on the 審査する.

"Come along," said Curtis taking Mrs. Sacret by the arm. "I want to shut the door, the mistress is in a 草案."

From 証拠不十分 and to 避ける the servant's 支配する, Olivia fell clumsily to her 膝s. Curtis held her tightly, Mrs. Rue rose, 板材d over to her and took her other arm. Panic 弱めるd her as she realized their strength; even the old woman was able to drag her up, to 軍隊 her to the door, to 涙／ほころび her fingers away as she tried to 粘着する to the 扱う.

"You'll only 傷つける yourself," said Mrs. Rue. "It wouldn't be any use to cry or to struggle. After all, you may get to the police 駅／配置する in time, your 共犯者 may not have followed you. What do you think, Curtis?"

"Oh, I think he followed her, I think that he is waiting out there in the rain—the ヒース／荒れ地 is so lonely, isn't it?"

"I won't leave the garden," whimpered Olivia. "If you 押し進める me out of the house, I'll stay in the garden until it is light."

"But the garden is just where he would hide—so many low bushes—so very dark."

They led her downstairs slowly, Curtis 軍隊ing her along, Mrs. Rue ひどく behind, 押し進めるing her, now with her 手渡すs, now with her stick. In the hall she was on her 膝s again, entreating them, only for a little 一時的休止，執行延期 now, a glass of water, yes, just that, or a chance to say her 祈りs.

Mrs. Rue, breathing ひどく from her exertions, laughed at that. Her stolid, pallid features were 不変の, only her 注目する，もくろむs shone with a 直す／買収する，八百長をするd, ferocious gleam. Curtis was やめる disfigured by a fearful contortion that gave her haggard 直面する a look of mortal illness.

Between them they dragged the trembling Olivia to her feet again and Mrs. Rue held her by the umbrella stand, while Curtis opened the door. And the rain blew in with an eddy of 勝利，勝つd.

"I'd better get away from them," thought Olivia in a crazy panic, "and try to run to the police 駅／配置する—perhaps he didn't follow me after all."

So she did not resist as Curtis 押し進めるd her over the threshold, she even felt a 解除する of her terror as the dark （太陽，月の）食／失墜d those two 直面するs 十分な of 憎悪 and the 冷静な／正味の rain and the fresh 微風 enveloped her in a 隠す of water and 勝利，勝つd.

A blur of light fell across the two wet steps and の上に the glistening leaves of the laurels, the slanting raindrops showed a 急いでing silver against the outer 不明瞭.

"Look out!" cried Curtis, pulling Mrs. Rue 支援する. "There is a man there—in the shrubs—" and she shut the door on Olivia Sacret.

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Silence and 独房監禁 desolation surrounded her, 黒人／ボイコット 影をつくる／尾行するs, darker than the 不明瞭, bore 負かす／撃墜する on her, the rain had a stinging feel, a sighing sound that was not in nature, but demoniacal, like the night. She （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 on the door and shrieked again and again. Her 手渡すs were soon bruised and her throat sore, her 発言する／表明する whistled vainly.

圧力（をかける）d against the door she peered about. Where was he? Any of the bushes could have hidden him. Why were not the police there to help her. Something seemed to 動かす and 急襲する in the rustling laurels. Sobbing, she cast herself on the door. It seemed incredible to her that the lock could withstand her frantic 圧力.

She heard a window open above, and stepped 支援する to shriek for pity with a strength 新たにするd from hope. He would not dare to touch her while those two looked on.

The window sash was raised, the curtains had been drawn, and a patch of dull light showed against which were the 輪郭（を描く）s, uncertain, dark, featureless, of the two women leaning out into the rain, the white cap of Curtis （疑いを）晴らす above the blank 影をつくる／尾行する of her 直面する, Mrs. Rue one 激しい smear of 黒人／ボイコット. Her crape 隠す was blowing across her gloating 注目する，もくろむs and pursed mouth, through the mesh of 不明瞭 she gazed 負かす／撃墜する into 不明瞭, 絡まるd in her 嘆く／悼むing, not 注意するing it.

"He is behind you!" cried Curtis. "Better make a dash for it!"

"Yes, I can see him," （機の）カム the flat 発言する／表明する of Mrs. Rue. "Better say your 祈りs now if you can remember any—"

Olivia felt her senses recede, the patch of light that was the window, the patches of 不明瞭 that were the murderous women, 星／主役にするing 負かす／撃墜する, the blackness that was the house, and all the 形態／調整s of bushes that seemed to crouch and creep, wheeled around her, as if she were the 焦点（を合わせる） of all these terrors. She was conscious of the implacable, unyielding surface of the door against which she flung her 負わせる again, 審理，公聴会 him approach, feeling his fingers around her throat. Then the rain was flung, a 噴出する from a spout, の上に her 上昇傾向d 直面する, blinding her, 落ちるing into her open, soundless mouth, and she was on her 膝s for the third time, and she heard Mrs. Rue's toneless 発言する／表明する, "You asked for some water," then the silence joined the 不明瞭 in oblivion for Olivia Sacret.

When she had been 静かな for a long time, the 未亡人 and Susan's servant （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to look at her; they had been enjoying tea and scones, with raspberry jam and cream. Without comment they had sat 負かす／撃墜する together, 製図／抽選 the curtains across the rain. They were exhausted and ate and drank with avidity. What they had done had been partly the result of long planning and partly inspiration arising from the moment. Some 力／強力にする, they did not 関心 themselves with the 指名する of it, had 配達するd their enemy into their 手渡すs and they had richly used their 適切な時期. Her 団体／死体 封鎖するd the door, but Curtis soon had it 押し進めるd aside. Mrs. Rue held a lamp and lowered this to 星／主役にする 負かす／撃墜する at what lay across the steps.

"Feel her wrist and her heart, Curtis."

"No need, ma'am. I don't want to wet my dress. She's dead—look at her 直面する."

"Yes, I see," said Mrs. Rue, lowering the lamp and peering. "What shall we say to the police?"

"The truth, that's always best, if one can—yet we needn't say anything. Knowing she'd betrayed him, she thought he was に引き続いて her and died of fright. The doctor will find that—heart 失敗."

"And we didn't hear anything, Curtis?"

"We didn't hear anything. How should we?—with the rain coming 負かす／撃墜する, and the 勝利，勝つd, too—And who is to know she 叫び声をあげるd?"

THE END

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