a treasure-trove of literature
treasure 設立する hidden with no 証拠 of 所有権
(and our other authors) or get HELP Reading, Downloading and 変えるing とじ込み／提出するs)
or
SEARCH the entire 場所／位置 with Google 場所／位置 Search
|
このページはEtoJ逐語翻訳フィルタによって翻訳生成されました。 |
|
事業／計画（する） Gutenberg
Australia a treasure-trove of literature treasure 設立する hidden with no 証拠 of 所有権 |
BROWSE the 場所／位置 for other 作品 by this author (and our other authors) or get HELP Reading, Downloading and 変えるing とじ込み／提出するs) or SEARCH the entire 場所／位置 with Google 場所／位置 Search |
肩書を与える: The Amethyst Cross Author: Fergus Hume * A 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBook * eBook No.: 1800841h.html Language: English Date first 地位，任命するd: September 2018 Most 最近の update: September 2018 This eBook was produced by: Walter Moore 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBooks are created from printed 版s which are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright notice is 含むd. We do NOT keep any eBooks in 同意／服従 with a particular paper 版. Copyright 法律s are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright 法律s for your country before downloading or redistributing this とじ込み／提出する. This eBook is made 利用できる at no cost and with almost no 制限s どれでも. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the 条件 of the 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia Licence which may be 見解（をとる）d online.
GO TO 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia HOME PAGE
一時期／支部 1. - The Beginning Of A Mystery
一時期／支部 2. - The 予期しない Happens
一時期／支部 3. - Another Mystery
一時期／支部 4. - A Family History
一時期／支部 5. - Mrs. Walker’s Opinion
一時期／支部 6. - Purple And 罰金 Linen
一時期／支部 7. - After Midnight
一時期／支部 8. - Under A Cloud
一時期／支部 9. - Two Girls
一時期／支部 10. - The Deus Ex Machina
一時期／支部 11. - The Seamy 味方する
一時期／支部 12. - A Counterplot
一時期／支部 13. - Mrs. Walker’s Visit
一時期／支部 14. - The Family Lawyer
一時期／支部 15. - A Startling Letter
一時期／支部 16. - 承認
一時期／支部 17. - 不名誉
一時期／支部 18. - Lady Charvington’s 告訴，告発s
一時期／支部 19. - Mr. Hale Explains
一時期／支部 20. - 旅行s End In Lovers’ 会合
一時期／支部 21. - Two Interviews
一時期／支部 22. - The 陰謀（を企てる）
一時期／支部 23. - One Part Of The Truth
一時期／支部 24. - Another Part Of The Truth
一時期／支部 25. - 復讐
一時期／支部 26. - The End Of It All
The blackbird knew. He had paired for the fifth time in as many years, and esteemed himself wise in the 事柄s, of love. Therefore, from the budding chestnut wherein his nest was built, did he sympathetically watch the bachelor and maid who sat below. They were lovers as he knew very 井戸／弁護士席, for only lovers could have gazed so 断固としてやる into one another’s 注目する，もくろむs, and therein did they behold each other as each wished to be. Which 宣告，判決 is cryptic to those who are not lovers as these were.
They might have looked at the 滑らかに-flowing river, singing 静かに to itself not a 石／投石する-cast away, or 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a 絡まるd garden, delicately beautiful with the young 青葉 of May, or up into the azure depths of a sky, flecked with silvery clouds. But they preferred—wisely it may be—to look into each other’s 注目する，もくろむs, to clasp 手渡すs and to remain silent with that eloquent muteness, which is the speech of true love. Oh! the blackbird knew the meaning of these things very 完全に, and chuckled with such glee that he finally broke into glorious song 関心ing the new love, the true love, the old love, the bold love, which comes evermore with the blossoms of spring. But these inhabitants of 楽園 did not 要求する the bird to 明らかにする／漏らす the obvious. Their hearts were also singing the song of the 早期に year.
“It can’t last for ever,” murmured the maid dreamily, “it is too beautiful to last, since we are but mortal.”
“It shall last for ever; it must,” 訂正するd the bachelor, wise in that 知恵 of the gods, which comes to wooers, “for we love with our souls, dearest, and these cannot die.”
She knew that he was 権利, for her heart told her so. Therefore did they again look into one another’s 注目する，もくろむs and again become silent, while the fluting blackbird explained more than mere human speech could （判決などを）下す. And he, perched on a swaying bough, was only too willing to 解釈する／通訳する. He knew: he was wise. And listening Nature heard complacently. To such ends had she 形態／調整d her children; for such a 推論する／理由 had she 供給するd their Arcadia.
As Arcadia, like Marlowe’s hell, is not circumscribed, it chanced that this especial one was by Thames-味方する, and those who dwelt therein were up-to-date in looks and dress and manners. Only their feelings were those of classic times, and as he told her the old, old story, which is ever new, she listened with the 直感的に knowledge that the tale was wonderfully familiar. She had read it in his 注目する，もくろむs, after the manner of maids, long before he dared to speak.
And this river 楽園 was not wholly unworthy at so comely an Adam and Eve, although 限られた／立憲的な in extent and untrimmed in looks. Lord Beaconsfield 宣言するd that the most perfect garden is that cultivated to 超過 by man and then 手渡すd over to the caprice of Nature. The owner of this demesne 明らかに subscribed to this dictum, for the garden, 井戸／弁護士席-filled with expensive flowers and shrubs, had long since relapsed into wildness. On either 味方する of the 狭くする （土地などの）細長い一片 of land, sloping 徐々に to the stream, 延長するd low 塀で囲むs of mellow red brick overgrown with dark-green ivy. The flowerbeds were luxuriant with ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れるs and nettles and charlock and divers 少しのd: the pathways were untidy with lush grass, and the tiny lawn at the water’s 辛勝する／優位 was shaggy and untrimmed. A 木造の 上陸-行う／開催する／段階 floated 近づく shore at the garden’s foot, and to this was 大（公）使館員d the young man’s boat. At the far end of this neglected domain could be seen a thatched cottage with whitewashed 塀で囲むs and oblong lattices quaintly diamond-paned. So rustic and pretty and old-world did it look that it might 井戸／弁護士席 have been the fairy-dwelling of a nursery tale. And the lovers themselves were young and handsome enough to deserve the care of the fairies.
He was tall, わずかな／ほっそりした, 井戸／弁護士席-formed, and Saxon in his fairness. His curly hair—so much of it as the barber’s shears had spared—was golden in the sunlight, as was his small moustache, and his 注目する，もくろむs were bravely blue, as a hero’s should be. The white boating-flannels accentuated the bronze of his 肌, and 明らかにする／漏らすd the 平易な strength of an 競技者. He looked what the girl took him to be—a splendid young lover of romance. Yet he was but a City clerk of prosaic 環境, and his 青年 alone 改善するd him into Don Juan o’ Dreams.
The girl 似ているd Hebe, maidenly, dainty, and infinitely charming; or it might be Titania, since her 外見 was almost too 壊れやすい for the work-a-day world. With a 乳の 肌; brown-haired and brown-注目する，もくろむd; with a tempting mouth and a 井戸／弁護士席-一連の会議、交渉／完成するd chin, she looked worthy of any man’s 支持を得ようと努めるing. She was 甘い and twenty; he but five years older, so both were 熟した for love. And then the spring, joyous and fresh, had much to do with the 提案 just made. Her answer to his question had been tunefully commented upon by the irrepressible blackbird, who 表明するd no surprise when the echo of a kiss interrupted his song.
“But my father will never agree, George,” sighed the girl, after this outward and 明白な sound of 受託.
“Dearest Lesbia”—he 倍のd her manfully in his 武器—“I don’t see why your father should 反対する. I am not rich certainly, as a stockbroker’s clerk doesn’t earn large 給料. But for your dear sake I shall work and work and work until I become a millionaire.”
Lesbia smiled at this large 約束. “We may have to wait for years.”
“What does it 事柄 so long as our hearts are true?”
“They may grow sick with waiting,” said Lesbia, sighing. Then she proceeded to look on the practical 味方する of their idyll, as the most romantic of women will do at the most romantic of moments. “You earn only two hundred a year, darling, and my father—so far as I know—can give me nothing. He has his 年金 from Lord Charvington, and makes a small income by his work in the City, but”—here （機の）カム a depressing pause.
“What does Mr. Hale do in the City?” asked George 突然の.
Lesbia opened her brown 注目する，もくろむs. “I don’t know, dear. He goes there two or three times a week, and always seems to be busy. I have asked him what his 占領／職業 is, but he only laughs, and 宣言するs that 乾燥した，日照りの 商売／仕事 詳細（に述べる）s would not 利益／興味 me. I am sure no girl ever knew so little of her father as I do. It’s not fair.”
“Strange!” murmured the young man meditatively. “I never see Mr. Hale in the City, and although I have asked several people, no one appears to know the 指名する. Of course, darling, the City is a big place, and your father may do 商売／仕事 in a 静かな way. Still it is 半端物 that no one should know. I wish I did. I might help him.”
“In what way?”
“井戸／弁護士席, Lesbia, the 給料 I receive at Tait’s office are small, and—and—and”—here George 紅潮／摘発するd for no 明らかな 推論する／理由—“and there are other things to be considered. If I could only get something else to do I should leave Tait’s. Your father might be willing to let me enter his office, you know, and then I could work up his 商売／仕事, whatever it might be.”
The girl nodded. She was a 事柄-of-fact young woman. Since Hale’s income was 限られた／立憲的な she was compelled, as housekeeper, very often to consider ways and means. “You might speak to my father.”
“And may I について言及する our 約束／交戦?” he 補足（する）d.
“No-o!” Lesbia looked doubtful. “I had better 発表する that. Father has a temper, and if he grew angry, you might grow angry also.”
“Oh no.” George was 完全に in earnest when he said this. “I should always remember that he was your father and that you love him.”
Lesbia again looked doubtful. “Do I love him?” she mused.
“One is supposed to love one’s father,” 示唆するd George.
She 星／主役にするd at the river. “Yes! I suppose so. Honour your parents, and so 前へ／外へ. I don’t honour my father, though—his temper is too bad. I am not やめる sure if I love him.”
“Oh, my dear.” George looked nervous.
“Don’t make any mistake, dear boy. I like my father, since we are good friends, and usually he is 肉親，親類d—that is, when he is not in a 激怒（する）. But then, you see, sweetest,” she sighed, “he is nearly always in a 激怒（する） about some trifle. Look at the garden,” she waved her 手渡す ばく然と, “I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 雇う a gardener to make it look more respectable, and father was furious. He 宣言するd that he did not want people to come 秘かに調査するing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the cottage. 秘かに調査するing! Such an 半端物 word to use.”
“Your father is an 半端物 man,” said George ruefully, “and he certainly has not been over-hospitable to me. Perhaps he guesses that I have come to steal his jewel, and one can’t be hospitable to a robber.”
Lesbia pinched his chin. “You silly boy, my father doesn’t think so much of me as you do. I いつかs wonder,” she went on sadly, “if he loves me at all. I am very much alone.”
“He doesn’t 扱う／治療する you 不正に?” 需要・要求するd George with sudden heat.
“No, dear, no. I shouldn’t 許す anyone to 扱う／治療する me 不正に, not even my father. But I fancy he regards me as a necessary trouble, for いつかs he looks at me in a disagreeable way as though he fancied I was 秘かに調査するing.”
“Why do you use so disagreeable a word?” asked the straightforward clerk.
“My father used it himself in the first instance,” she 再結合させるd 敏速に; “perhaps because he doesn’t want anyone else to 会合，会う the queer people who come to see him,—一般に after dark. Men who smell of drink, who use slang and dress like grooms,—certainly not gentlemen. Of course I never talk to them, for when they appear, my father always sends me to my room. I’m sure,” sighed the girl dolefully, “that if it wasn’t for old Tim, the servant, I should be やめる alone.”
George hugged her. “You shall never be alone again!” he whispered, and Lesbia threw her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck with 広大な／多数の／重要な contentment.
“Oh, darling, you don’t know how good that sounds to me. If it were only true. You see, my father may 反対する.”
“He can 反対する until he is tired,” cried the ardent lover. “If he does not make you happy I must. And when he sees this—”
“Oh!” Lesbia clasped her 手渡す in delight at the sight of a cheap turquoise （犯罪の）一味, “how lovely!”
George frowned at the mean gift. “It was all I could afford,” said he.
“It is all I want,” she said, as he slipped it on her 約束／交戦 finger, “it’s not the cost, or even the thing. It’s what it means. Love and joy to you and me, dearest boy.”
But George, having a generous heart, still lamented. “If I hadn’t to keep my mother,” he said ruefully. “I would save up and give you diamonds. But two hundred a year goes a very little way with my mother, even when her own small income is 追加するd. You see, dear, she never forgets that my father was the Honourable Aylmer Walker, and she will 主張する upon having everything of the best. This is a beastly cheap （犯罪の）一味, but—but—”
“But you 否定するd yourself all manner of nice things to buy it for ME,” finished Lesbia, 圧力（をかける）ing a kiss on his willing cheek.
“No, dear, no,” he said valiantly, “only a few 麻薬を吸うs of タバコ.”
“You dearest donkey,” cooed the girl, more touched than she chose to 自白する, “doesn’t that show me how you love me. As to the （犯罪の）一味,” she 調査するd the cheap trinket 批判的に, “it is 正確に／まさに what I 手配中の，お尋ね者. The 石／投石するs are the colour of your dear 注目する，もくろむs.”
George, man-like, was delighted. “You know the colour of my 注目する，もくろむs?”
Lesbia boxed his ears delicately. “I knew the colour 正確に／まさに one minute after our very first 会合.”
“Did you love me then?”
“No. Certainly not: how conceited you are.”
“Then why did you notice my—”
“Oh, a woman always notices these things, when a man is nice.”
“And you thought me nice?”
Lesbia 盗品故買者d. “Good-looking, at all events. You wore a dark flannel 控訴 （土地などの）細長い一片d with pale green.”
“So I did,” cried George, delighted, “it was at Mrs. Riordan’s picnic 近づく Bisham Abbey a year ago. And you were there.”
Lesbia laughed and nursed her 膝s. “I must have been, since I can 述べる you so 正確に／まさに. What did I wear, dear?”
“I don’t know,” said George 敏速に.
“Oh!” she was やめる disappointed, “and you call yourself a lover?”
“I do,” he 再結合させるd stoutly, “for, as I fell in love with you the moment we met, I saw only your 注目する，もくろむs and your angel 直面する. How could you 推定する／予想する me to remember a mere dress when—”
“Oh, what nonsense—very nice nonsense; still nonsense.”
“I like talking nonsense to you.”
“And I like to hear it from you. But it isn’t bread and butter.”
“You’re thinking of afternoon tea,” said George Walker audaciously.
“No. I’m thinking of how we are to live when we marry.”
The mere について言及する of that delicious word made George forget the 警告 伝えるd by the 宣告，判決. “Marry! Marry you! Oh, heaven!”
“A pauper heaven, I 恐れる,” said Lesbia; then fished in her pocket, “see, the only 価値のある thing I 所有する, besides your love. It is for you.”
“Oh, my dear, it’s not a man’s ornament.”
“As if that 事柄s, since I give it to you,” she said, laughing. “I must give you something, and this is all I have to give.”
She held out her 手渡す, on the palm of which 残り／休憩（する）d an amethyst cross formed of four 深く，強烈に purple 石／投石するs, 始める，決める lightly in gold filigree, with a 宙返り飛行 at the 最高の，を越す for the necessary chain to pass through. Not a very uncommon ornament at the first ちらりと見ること, George decided, although very beautiful. But on looking more closely he became aware that there was something bizarre about the thing. In the centre where the four 石／投石するs met was a tiny cube of malachite, graven with a golden 栄冠を与える and inscribed with minute letters. The pansy-blossom hue of the 石／投石するs contrasting with the vivid green of the cube gave the ornament rather an uncanny look.
“What a queer thing,” said George, transferring the cross to his 幅の広い palm.
“Yes! isn’t it?” said Lesbia 熱望して, and then brought out a magnifying glass. “And the inscription is still queerer.”
George 均衡を保った the powerful glass over the 厚板 of malachite, and with some difficulty deciphered the golden Gothic letters. “‘辞退する and Lose,’“ he read slowly. “Now what does that mean?”
“You stupid darling,” cried Lesbia, pinching his ear, “can’t you see? If you 辞退する the cross—which is married life; you lose the 栄冠を与える—which is me.”
Walker thrust the cross into his pocket, 手渡すd 支援する the magnifying glass and solemnly embraced the girl, “I’ll take the cross and the 栄冠を与える and you, and everything I can get,” he whispered in her ear. “I don’t 正確に／まさに see the meaning, of course, but—”
“Was there ever such a dense man?” Lesbia 需要・要求するd of the blackbird in despair. “It’s a 宗教的な symbol, of course. If you 辞退する to 耐える life’s cross in the way you should, you lose the 栄冠を与える which せねばならない be yours in heaven.”
George took out the ornament again and looked at it 本気で. He had a かなりの 緊張する of the Puritan in his nature, to which the idea 控訴，上告d 堅固に. “I shall certainly not 辞退する life’s cross,” he 宣言するd soberly, “and may we both some day wear a 栄冠を与える in a better world.”
“My darling, my dearest, my best,” she murmured, embracing him 情愛深く. The touch of 真面目さ in George’s gay disposition 高めるd his value in her 注目する，もくろむs. She 認可するd of so 英貨の／純銀の a character.
“Where did you get the cross?” asked Walker, while the jewels winked in the 日光. “From your father?”
“No!” she replied 突然に. “He doesn’t know that I 所有する such a thing. But my nurse, old Bridget Burke—Tim’s mother, you know—who died last summer, gave it to me on her death-bed and 警告するd me not to tell my father about it. She said that it （機の）カム from my dead mother, and was to be given by me to the man I loved. So you see, my darling, that even though it is a woman’s ornament, you must take it.”
“I’ll wear it 一連の会議、交渉／完成する my neck,” 宣言するd George. “It will bring me good luck, I am sure.”
“So Bridget said,” 観察するd the girl 敏速に. “She had the ‘sight,’ you know, George, and 宣言するd that the cross would bring me luck and money and love and position. I don’t know how, unless it is by marrying you.”
“Ah, my love,” said George somewhat sadly. “I can only give you my heart. Money and position must come later. But if we both obey the inscription and 耐える the cross we shall 勝利，勝つ the 栄冠を与える of success in the end. Look how the gems flash, Lesbia—an earnest of the 未来.”
While they were both admiring the cross, a tall, lean man, perfectly dressed in a 社債 Street 道具, （機の）カム softly 負かす／撃墜する the grassy path. He looked like a gentleman, and also like a 強硬派, and his pale 注目する，もくろむs wandered from one bent 長，率いる to the other until they dropped to the flash of the jewelled cross, which glittered on Walker’s palm. Then the newcomer started nervously, and took a step nearer to 観察する. Lesbia and her lover looked up as the 影をつくる／尾行する of the man fell across them, and in the movement they made, the cross fell on the grass.
“Oh, father, how you startled us,” cried the girl, springing to her feet.
Mr. Walter Hale did not reply. His 注目する，もくろむs were still on the purple 石／投石するs of the cross, and when his daughter stooped to 選ぶ it up, he twitched his fingers as though anxious to take it from her. “Where did you get that?” he 需要・要求するd 突然の and 厳しく.
“Bridget gave it to me, and I have given it to George,” she said, 手渡すing the ornament to her lover. “It belonged to my mother.”
“It did,” said Hale はっきりと, “and therefore must not pass out of the family.”
“It won’t,” said Lesbia cheerfully; “George is to be my husband.”
Mr. Hale frowned. “You have yet to 伸び（る） my 許可,” he said in 乾燥した，日照りの トンs. “一方／合間, Mr. Walker, give me 支援する the cross.”
“No!” said George, who did not like the トン of his 未来 father-in-法律 and could be obstinate when necessary. “Lesbia gave it to me, and I ーするつもりである to keep it.”
“Lesbia had no 権利 to give it to you,” cried Hale, his 発言する／表明する rising, and he 延長するd his 手渡す to take his 願望（する）. But Walker was too quick for him and dexterously swerving, 発射 the cross into his pocket.
“It is Lesbia’s first 現在の to me,” said he, excusing his obstinacy.
“She has no 権利 to make you 現在のs,” 泡，激怒することd the other, who had now 完全に lost his temper.
“She has the 権利 of a lover,” retorted George coolly.
“There can be no question of love between you and my daughter.”
The girl moved to her lover’s 味方する, very pale and very 反抗的な. “That is for me to decide,” she said coldly, but with 決意.
“You go against your father, Lesbia?”
“For the first time in my life. And why not, when the 事柄 is so important?”
Hale bit his lips and tried to 星／主役にする her 負かす／撃墜する: but as her 注目する，もくろむs did not 減少（する） before his own he was the first to give way, and did so with inward 激怒（する）. With an impatient shrug he wheeled to 直面する young Walker. The two 現在のd the striking contrast of untainted 青年 and 人工的な age too much 詩（を作る）d in the evils of life. And 青年 had the advantage, for—as in the 事例／患者 of Lesbia—the older man tried to 支配する without success. He was 軍隊d to take 避難 in idle 脅しs.
“If you do not give me 支援する that cross, it will be the worse for you,” 発言／述べるd Hale, very distinctly and with menace.
George clenched his 握りこぶしs, then, with a ちらりと見ること に向かって Lesbia, ended the argument by stepping into his boat. As he 列／漕ぐ／騒動d off, Hale, who had not 試みる／企てるd to stop him, turned 激しく to his daughter.
“You have 廃虚d me,” he said between his teeth, and returned あわてて to the cottage.
To say that Lesbia was amazed 伝えるs imperfectly her 明言する／公表する of mind. The sudden arrival of her father, the 迅速な 出発 of her lover, the mysterious 出来事/事件 connected with the amethyst cross, and the still more mysterious 発言／述べる which Mr. Hale had made—these things perplexed and, very 自然に, alarmed her. At once, with the swiftness of an imaginative brain, she conjured up 見通しs of 不名誉 and shame and 犯罪の publicity, going too far in her surmises, after the fashion of such a brain. For after all, as a calmer reflection 示唆するd, there was nothing in what had taken place that should induce such happenings, although there were several disquieting hints.
For a few moments the girl remained where she was, too agitated to move; but when Hale disappeared into the cottage, and George’s boat 消えるd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a bend of the 向こうずねing river, she woke to the fact that for her own peace of mind it was necessary to ask questions. At once she ran up the grass-grown path, and speedily 設立する herself in the 狭くする passage, which led 権利 through the house from 支援する to 前線. But she only entered to hear the street door bang, and flew to open it again in the hope of catching Mr. Hale before he could go far away. But the man must have made good use of his 脚s, for when she peered out into the 静かな 味方する street she noticed that it was empty. This 消えるing of her father without an explanation 狼狽d her more than ever, and in the hope of 伸び（る）ing some sort of （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） she sought Tim in the tiny kitchen, calling on him loudly. A soft 発言する／表明する like a 井戸／弁護士席-tuned lute answered her from the scullery.
“Ah, 行方不明になる Lesbia, and what wud ye be after spoilin’ yer pretty 発言する／表明する for now? Don’t ye, me darlin’, don’t ye!”
“Why has my father gone out, Tim?” asked Lesbia はっきりと.
An 半端物 little man 現れるd from the scullery and stood coolly rubbing his nose-tip with the toe of the boot he was polishing. “An’ how should I know, 行方不明になる? Didn’t he come 涙／ほころびing through the passage, as if the divil wor after him, an’ （競技場の）トラック一周 like a trout int’ the street? Sure ye must have seen the masther rampagin’ yersilf.”
“I know that father （機の）カム and 設立する me with George and—”
“Ah, thin, ’tis Garge, is it?” muttered Tim, beginning to 小衝突 mechanically.
“And 急ぐd away in a temper because George would not give him my amethyst cross.”
衝突，墜落 went the boot on the 床に打ち倒す, and the 黒人／ボイコットing-小衝突 followed, while Tim 星／主役にするd out of his melancholy grey 注目する，もくろむs as though he saw a ghost. Decidedly the ornament was 原因（となる）ing a かなりの sensation, although Lesbia could not understand why her father should 激怒（する）, any more than why Tim should 星／主役にする. “Like a stuck pig,” as she said, inelegantly. And the annoying thing was that he did more than 星／主役にする.
“Oh, blissid saints in glory!” groaned the Irishman, crossing himself.
“What on earth do you mean?” asked the girl, tartly, for she was beginning to 疲れた／うんざりした of these mysteries.
“Oh, blissid saints in glory!” Tim moaned again, and, 選ぶing up the boot and the 小衝突 with the 表現 of a 殉教者, went into the scullery to peel potatoes.
Lesbia, who was a 決定するd young woman, followed, やめる bent upon getting at the root of the 騒動.
“Come and talk, Tim.”
“Sure an’ I must git the dinner ready anyhow, 行方不明になる.”
“Come out, or I’ll come in,” cried Lesbia, standing at the door.
“Sure ye wudn’t dirthy th’ 着せる／賦与するs av ye,” 説得するd Tim, and very unwillingly 緊急発進するd 支援する into the cleaner, drier kitchen with the tin 水盤／入り江 of potatoes in his 抱擁する 握りこぶし.
He was certainly an ugly, under-sized man, and looked like the wicked dwarf of a fairy tale. But the similarity was all on the surface, for Tim Burke was as good and 充てるd a little 米，稲 as ever dipped his fingers into 宗教上の water. But his 外見 was not prepossessing, for he was broader than he was long, and on a pair of hunched shoulders was 始める，決める askew a gigantic 長，率いる much too large for his squat 団体／死体. His short 脚s were crooked, and he usually walked in a crab-like fashion in 予期しない directions—that is, whither his brain did not direct his 脚s to go. He was barely five feet high, and his shaggy 耐えるd was as red as the untidy hair covering his 投票. He was やめる a monstrosity.
にもかかわらず, Tim had his good points, for Nature had given him beautiful grey 注目する，もくろむs, pathetic as those of a dog, and a 甘い 同情的な 発言する／表明する, which sounded like a mellow bell. To hear Tim sing Irish ditties of the heart-breaking sort was a 扱う／治療する not to be met with every day, but he rarely sang them, save to Lesbia, whom he adored. And small wonder, for she alone was 肉親，親類d to the 半端物, uncouth, little man. Mr. Hale, whose selfishness was phenomenal, 扱う／治療するd Tim like a white slave and, indeed, he might be called one, seeing that he worked like a horse and received no 給料. Yet he was an admirable housekeeper and a magnificent cook. With such 資格s he could have procured a 井戸／弁護士席-paid 状況／情勢. Yet, for Lesbia’s sake, he remained at Rose Cottage, watching her like a cat a mouse, but with more amiable 意向s. She was the 遺産／遺物 which his mother Bridget, the girl’s nurse, had left him on her death-bed, when she died some twelve months before.
Lesbia, looking like a fairy princess …に出席するd by her dwarf, perched herself on the kitchen （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with a 厳しい 直面する. To lose no time while 存在 questioned, Tim 始める，決める to work peeling the potatoes, for Mr. Hale growled like a 耐える when his meals were not placed punctually on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. As he peeled each potato, he dropped it with a splash into a bucket of clean water and rarely raised his sad 注目する，もくろむs to the 直面する of his young mistress during the conversation which 続いて起こるd. Also—and this Lesbia noticed—he conversed very reluctantly, and every admission was wrung from unwilling lips.
“Tim,” said his mistress 厳しく, and beginning at the beginning, “you are the only son of my nurse, Bridget Burke.”
“I am that, 行方不明になる, her only boy, 行方不明になる, and a good mother she was to me.”
“A good nurse also, Tim. She loved me.”
“An’ who wudn’t, ye pretty creature? Ain’t I 充てるd to ye likewise, me darlin’? Answer me that now?”
“I shall do so,” said 行方不明になる Hale 意味ありげに, “when our conversation comes to an end.”
Tim groaned and winced. “Bad luck to the crass,” he breathed, “an’ may the Vargin 許す me for sayin that same.”
“Why, bad luck to the cross?” 需要・要求するd Lesbia, coming to the point.
“An’ how shud I know, me dear?”
“But you do know,” she 主張するd. “Tim, your mother gave me that cross.”
“Did she now?—the owd fool.”
“How dare you, Tim, and Bridget dead? She was your mother.”
“行為 an’ 井戸／弁護士席 she might be, 行方不明になる, for an uglier owd woman nivir could be 設立する in 郡 Clare, forby she left it for this blissid country whin I wor a gossoon.”
“Did my father bring her over from Ireland, Tim?”
“Not he,” Tim shook his Judas-coloured 長，率いる. “Divil an 注目する，もくろむ did the pair av us clap on the gintleman for many a long day. Wasn’t I a 明らかにする-futted brat runnin’ wild about Whitechapel till my father—残り／休憩（する） his sowl—wos tuck by the police for shop-liftin’—bad luck to thim? An’ he died in gaol, poor man—ah, that he did, laving me mother an’ me widout bread in the mouths av us.”
“What did Bridget do then, Tim?”
“Sure she come to Wimbleton or a place hard by,” 認める Tim reluctantly, “sellin’ apples an’ nuts, an’ a mighty bad thing she made by the sale.”
“I want to know 正確に／まさに how she （機の）カム to be my nurse?” said Lesbia.
Tim bent over the potatoes 深く，強烈に 利益／興味d in the peeling. “Why, 行方不明になる, your father—” here he swallowed something—“the masther, 行方不明になる, and a 肉親，親類d, good gintleman, tuck pity on her and give her the 状況／情勢 as your nurse, me dear.”
“But my mother?”
“Oh, howly saints, an’ how cud she say anything whin she wos dyin’ an’ you but a year old? But my mother nursed you like her own choild, 行方不明になる, till ye went to that school at Hampstead. But ye （機の）カム 支援する here just whin she was dyin’, poor sowl.”
“I did, a year ago,” said Lesbia 意味ありげに, “and in time to receive the cross, Tim.”
“May the father av lies 飛行機で行く away wid it!” groaned the dwarf. “An’ may the saints 許す me for the wicked wish.”
“Whatever do you mean, Tim?”
“Mane, ah, nivir ask me what I mane. But the crass isn’t with ye now, an’ ye’ll be the betther widout it.”
“Oh!” Lesbia slipped off the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with a 高くする，増すd colour, “does that mean it is unlucky? I gave it to George, you see, and—”
“Ah, divil 疑問 but what you’d give the 長，率いる av ye to Garge,” 不平（をいう）d Tim, taking up the tin of peeled potatoes. “Ah, 井戸／弁護士席, ’tis betther he shud have it nor you, me dear.”
“But why, but why?” asked Lesbia, frantic with curiosity.
“Ah, nivir ask me, 行方不明になる,” replied Tim enigmatically, and 出発／死d to continue his culinary work; also—as she could see—to 避ける その上の 尋問.
Failing Tim, the girl 解決するd to learn what her father would say, when at dinner. This was a meal which Mr. Hale never 行方不明になるd, as he was 充てるd to the 楽しみs of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd Tim’s excellent cooking. He always arrayed himself in purple and 罰金 linen to do 司法（官） to the viands 始める，決める before him, and it was the 支配する of the cottage that Lesbia should also dress 適切な. Her father prided himself upon 存在 ultra-civilised, and would have eaten a red herring with sartorial 儀式. The （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する was admirably laid with 水晶 and silver and 価値のある 磁器, and—decorated with flowers in graceful vases—looked 極端に pretty. Tim, in a livery of his master’s 工夫するing, 行為／法令／行動するd as butler, and the ワインs were as good as the food, which is 説 a lot. Mr. Hale might live in a humble cottage and might mix with queer people, but he was a sybarite, who enjoyed the good things of this life artistically 用意が出来ている. The room was beautifully furnished, and Lesbia was more beautiful than the room. Therefore, on this especial night, Mr. Walter Hale had both his palate and his 注目する，もくろむ gratified. His ear was not 大臣d to やめる so pleasantly, as, after dinner, and when Tim had left the room to 準備する the coffee, he 新たにするd the 支配する of the cross with his daughter.
“Lesbia,” said he, 直す／買収する，八百長をするing his 注目する，もくろむs on her somewhat 紅潮／摘発するd 直面する, and looking 極端に high-bred, “why did you give away that cross?”
“Bridget, who 現在のd it to me on her death-bed, said that I was to bestow it on the man I meant to marry. I have done so.”
This was a very 反抗的な speech, and Hale frowned. “I shall not 許す you to marry young Walker,” he said distinctly.
Lesbia shrugged her shoulders with 無関心／冷淡. This was not the way to manage her. “I am sorry, father, as I have decided to become his wife.”
“He has no money, you silly girl. I know for a fact that he is paid only a small salary by Michael Tait, who is a screw and a skinflint where his own 楽しみs are not 関心d. Moreover, Walker has to support his 未亡人d mother, and she is not likely to welcome a daughter-in-法律 who will curtail her 慰安s, such as they are. A hard woman, Lesbia, a very hard woman, my dear. I せねばならない know, as we have been 熟知させるd for years.”
The prospect did not seem alluring, but love 支えるd the girl. “George might get a better 状況／情勢,” she 投機・賭けるd to 発言／述べる, a trifle anxiously. “Why,” she 追加するd, this as though the thought had just struck her, “he might help you, father.”
Hale spilt the port ワイン he was 注ぐing into his glass. “What’s that?”
“You need not speak crossly, father,” replied Lesbia, puzzled by the sharpness of his トン. “I 単に 示唆するd that George might enter your office, and then he—”
The man rose suddenly and began to pace the room with the glass of ワイン in his 手渡す. But the look he cast upon his daring child was so grim that the unfinished 宣告，判決 died on her lips. “‘George—might—enter—your—office!’“ he repeated slowly, and ended with a 冷笑的な laugh. “Humph! I wonder now—” he laughed again and checked his speech. Then he finished his glass of ワイン and returned to the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. “When does Walker come to see you again?” he asked 突然の.
“To-morrow night at six o’clock,” said Lesbia, 敏速に. “He 列／漕ぐ／騒動s 負かす／撃墜する the river from Medmenham, or walks along the 牽引するing-path, every evening.”
“A 充てるd lover truly,” said Hale drily, “and how long has this pretty 支持を得ようと努めるing been going on?”
“For a few months,” said Lesbia, rather alarmed by the 厳しい 表現 of her father’s 直面する. “Don’t be angry. After all, it was you who introduced me to George.”
“The more fool I, seeing his age and looks and poverty. Lesbia!” he placed his knuckles on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and leaned across it. “You must marry my friend, Captain Sargent.”
“Ex-Captain Sargent,” cried Lesbia scornfully, and rising 突然に. “I shall do nothing of the sort. I don’t even like him.”
“Pooh! Pooh! Pooh! He is a gentleman—”
“So is George.”
Hale rapped the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する はっきりと. “Do not interrupt, you minx. Sargent has retired from the army, it is true. But he has a good income and a pretty bungalow at Cookham. We were in the same 連隊 until I left the service some fifteen years ago; so I know him 井戸／弁護士席. He will make an excellent husband—a very excellent husband indeed.”
“But, father, he is nearly as old as you are.”
“What of that? Sargent is a handsome man and looks young.”
Lesbia bit her lip, and tapped her foot on the ground. “I shan’t marry him.”
Hale scowled. “You shall. I am your father and you shall do as you are told, my dear. And if you don’t marry Sargent you shall certainly not marry Walker, unless—” he stopped suddenly.
“Unless what?”
“Unless you get that cross 支援する from him,” 嵐／襲撃するd Hale 怒って.
Lesbia was nothing if not direct, and the mystery of the cross piqued her exceedingly. She 投機・賭けるd on a 主要な question. “Why do you want that cross so much, father?”
“It belonged to your poor mother,” said Mr. Hale sentimentally, “and means more to me than you can ever guess. I 行方不明になるd it from your mother’s jewel-事例／患者 when she died; but I never 推定する／予想するd that Bridget Burke, who was supposed to be the soul of honesty, had stolen it.”
“No! no. I don’t believe Bridget would have stolen anything.”
“Bridget would have done anything that ふさわしい her,” retorted Hale grimly, “and if she （機の）カム by the cross honestly—say by your mother giving it to her—why did she not let you show it to me?”
“I can’t guess: perhaps she thought you would take it from me.”
“I might and I might not,” replied Hale hesitatingly, “but at all events I should not have 許すd you to give it to young Walker. You must ask him to return it at once.”
“I shall not,” said Lesbia determinedly.
“You shall,” cried Hale, and their 注目する，もくろむs met like those of two duelists crossing swords. But the father’s 注目する，もくろむs fell first. “You dare to 反抗する me.”
“Not 正確に／まさに, but—”
“I want no explanations, thank you; but I’ll make a 取引 with you. If Walker returns that cross he can have you as his wife. If not, I shall 辞退する to 許す him to haunt the cottage or 支払う／賃金 attentions to you. And remember, Lesbia, that I 持つ／拘留する the purse-strings.”
“George can keep me,” panted Lesbia, her colour rising.
“George has to keep his mother. Marry him without a dowry and see what the Honourable Mrs. Aylmer Walker will say.”
“You cannot give me a fortune, father.”
“I can give you two thousand a year if you are obedient,” said her father coolly, and walked に向かって the door. “Think it over, Lesbia,” and he left her to meditate on the astounding news.
Lesbia was 自然に astonished, since she never dreamed that her father was so 豊富な. Everything in the cottage was good of its 肉親，親類d, and even luxurious, and the living was excellent. But at times Hale appeared to 欠如（する） ready money, and frequently impressed upon Tim that it was necessary to be economical. Why then should he 行為／法令／行動する in this way when he appeared to be rich, and why should he 申し込む／申し出 so large an income on 条件 that the cross was returned? So far as Lesbia understood her father’s hard nature, he was not a man to 支払う／賃金 generously for a 単に sentimental idea.
However, the fact remained that if she could get the amethyst cross returned, she could marry George and bring him a 相当な dowry. After much reflection, she 決定するd to ask George for the ornament. After all, she could easily give him something else, and it was 価値（がある） 満足させるing her father when so much was at 火刑／賭ける.
For half a moment Lesbia thought that she would put on her cloak and hat, and walk along the 牽引するing-path to Medmenham in the hope of 会合 her lover. It was now half-past eight, as dinner had taken place at seven.
Mr. Hale had gone out, and Tim, as was his custom on 罰金 evenings, was paddling about in a boat on the river, いつかs 列／漕ぐ／騒動ing and いつかs fishing. She was alone and the 孤独 was becoming irksome. A 広大な／多数の／重要な wave of 願望（する） for love and sympathy （機の）カム over the girl, and she longed to see George Walker すぐに, not only to tell him of her father’s 申し込む／申し出, but to be petted and kissed and 慰安d. But a few minutes’ reflection showed her that it was not advisable that she should walk alone to Medmenham, 特に as the chances were that she might not 会合，会う her lover. It was true that he would certainly be at home, but Lesbia did not know Mrs. Walker and, from the description given by her father, hesitated to 会合，会う that formidable lady. On the whole, then, she decided, it was better to wait until George （機の）カム as usual on the 続いて起こるing evening.
存在 alone, it was difficult to find entertainment. Lesbia played the piano for a few minutes: then she read and afterwards enjoyed a game or two of Patience. Finally, feeling bored in the lonely house, she retired to bed about ten o’clock. There she speedily fell asleep, and dreamed that all 障害s were 除去するd, and she was George Walker’s wife. When she put out her light, neither Mr. Hale nor Tim had returned.
Lesbia’s sleep lasted for some かなりの time. Then she suddenly sat up with her senses 熱心に alive to every sensation. It seemed to her that George had called her, and that she had awakened in answer to his cry. And it was a cry for help, too! With a sensation of alarm, she sprang from her bed, and opened the lattice to look 負かす／撃墜する the garden and across the river. There it flowed silvery in the 静める moonlight: but she heard no cry and saw nothing. Yet the call for help had been very 際立った. Lesbia was not superstitious, and had it been 幅の広い daylight she would have laughed, at such midnight fancies. But in the mysterious moonlight—alone in the house so far as she knew—and at the hour of twelve o’clock, her heart （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 速く, and a 冷淡な perspiration broke out on her forehead. George was in danger: she was sure of that. And George had called to her in a dream. What was she to do? In which direction was she to look?
The first idea that （機の）カム into her 長，率いる was to see Tim, and explain. He would not laugh at her fancies, as he had many of his own. Lesbia threw on her dressing-gown, slipped her feet into shoes, and went 負かす／撃墜する the 狭くする staircase, taking a lighted candle with her. In the hall all was 静かな, and she paused here for a 選び出す／独身 moment, wondering if it was 価値（がある） while to awaken Tim with such a fantastical story of midnight terrors. Just as she was deciding that it would be wiser to return to bed, she heard a groan, and in her fright nearly dropped the candle. But 存在 a 勇敢に立ち向かう girl, she plucked up courage and listened. There （機の）カム a second groan—from the parlour. Lesbia すぐに opened the door and entered. There on the 床に打ち倒す she saw a man bound and gagged and stiff, with nothing alive about him but his 注目する，もくろむs. And those were the 注目する，もくろむs of George Walker.
Lesbia Hale was small, 壊れやすい and, in a degree, romantic; but in 十分に strange contrast, her でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる was strong and her nature practical. An ordinary girl would have 叫び声をあげるd and fainted, or perhaps would have run away. Lesbia did 非，不，無 of these things. She turned pale, it is true, and she trembled violently as she 星／主役にするd with dilated 注目する，もくろむs at the bound form of her lover. Then it （機の）カム upon her with a 急ぐ that 即座の 援助（する） was 要求するd, and without even calling for Tim, she 始める，決める 負かす／撃墜する her candlestick on a convenient 議長，司会を務める, and knelt beside the unfortunate young man. He was certainly in a very bad way; but how he （機の）カム to be in such a 苦境, Lesbia, with characteristic commonsense, did not wait to 問い合わせ. The first thing was to 緩和する him, and 生き返らせる him with ワイン: then she could ask questions. The answers 約束d to be 利益／興味ing.
First she dexterously 除去するd the handkerchief from across his mouth, with which George had been gagged in a clumsy manner. This she threw aside with a passing thought that later she would learn to whom it belonged, and then proceeded to unloosen the knot of the rope with which her lover was bound. There was only one rope and only one knot, and when she had disentangled the somewhat 複雑にするd fastening, she unwound the cord which curled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する him from his 幅の広い shoulders to his ankles. With his 武器 glued to his 味方するs and his feet 圧力（をかける）d closely together, George Walker had been tied up with yards of brand-new manila rope, so that he could not move, and was trussed as stiffly as any fowl 用意が出来ている for the market. And the person or persons who had bound him thus, to make 保証／確信 doubly sure, had struck him a 激しい blow on the 支援する of his 長，率いる. Lesbia discovered this by the half-乾燥した，日照りの 血 which clotted his curly hair.
“What does it all mean?” asked Lesbia, when George was 解放する／自由な from his 社債s, and lying almost as stiffly without them as he had when bound. But the young man did not reply, for the very good 推論する／理由 that he had fainted. At once Lesbia kissed him, and then went to the parlour door to 召喚する Tim.
She called loudly, やめる heedless of the fact that she might waken her father, who did not 認可する of young Walker. And even if he did not, it was necessary that he should come to 援助（する） the unfortunate man. So while the French clock on the mantelpiece struck a silvery twelve, Lesbia shouted at the 十分な pitch of her healthy young 肺s. In a few minutes the alarmed 発言する／表明する of Tim was heard, and by the time she was again ひさまづくing beside George, the dwarf shuffled hurriedly into the dimly-lighted room, half-dressed, a candle in one 手渡す and the kitchen poker in the other.
“The saints be betwixt us and 害（を与える）, 行方不明になる Lesbia,” cried Tim, who looked 脅すd out of his senses, “what’s come to you?”
“What’s come to George, you mean,” said Lesbia, looking up. “See, Tim, I heard him call me and （機の）カム downstairs a few minutes ago to find him bound and 負傷させるd. Don’t stand there shaking, and don’t chatter. Get the brandy and heat some water. He has fainted, and we must bring him to his senses.”
“But how the divil did Masther Garge come here?” 需要・要求するd Tim, aghast.
“How should I know?” retorted Lesbia impatiently. “We can ask him when he is able to speak. Go and do what I tell you while I waken my father.”
“Sure the masther isn’t in, 行方不明になる,” expostulated Tim, 支援 に向かって the door. “He wint out afther dinner to spind the night wid Captain Sargent at Cookham. An’ that we shud have the bad luck av this, while he’s away. Oh, 行方不明になる Lesbia, wasn’t it 夜盗，押し込み強盗s I was thinking av? But nivir 殺人, save the 示す, an’ sudden death at that.”
“It will be sudden death if you don’t get that brandy. Stop!” Lesbia started to her feet. “I’ll get it myself. Go and heat the water to bathe his 負傷させる.”
She ran into the dining-room and procured the spirit, while Tim went to stoke up the kitchen 解雇する／砲火／射撃. Lesbia 軍隊d George’s teeth apart and 注ぐd the brandy 卸売 負かす／撃墜する his throat. The ardent アルコール飲料 生き返らせるd him, and he opened his 注目する，もくろむs with a faint sigh. “Don’t speak, darling,” she whispered, with a second kiss, and then 始める，決める to work chafing his 四肢s. By the time Tim appeared with a jug of boiling water, the young man had やめる 回復するd his senses, and 試みる／企てるd to explain.
“No,” said Lesbia はっきりと, “you are too weak as yet. Bring a 水盤／入り江, Tim, and a sponge. We must bathe his 長，率いる.”
Considering she had no practice Lesbia 成し遂げるd her Good Samaritan 仕事 very dexterously and, having sponged the 負傷させる—a 汚い, jagged blow from some blunt 器具,—bound up her lover’s 長，率いる with that cleverness and tenderness which come from love. When he had やめる 回復するd—save for a trifling 証拠不十分—she made him 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する on the sofa, and fed him with weak brandy and water. Tim 一方／合間 lighted the lamp, and exhausted himself in guessing the 推論する／理由 for the 条件 of young Walker. “It’s that blissed crass,” moaned Tim, moving 一連の会議、交渉／完成する like an unquiet ghost, “bad luck to the same! Didn’t I say it wud bring throuble?”
“You did, Tim, you did,” assented Lesbia, who was seated by the now 回復するd man, and looking somewhat 疲れた／うんざりした after her exertions, “but as George is comparatively 井戸／弁護士席, he can explain.”
“The cross is やめる 安全な,” said Walker faintly. “I left it at home. Oh, my 長，率いる, how it aches. No wonder, when such a 激しい blow was struck.”
“Who struck it, dear?” 問い合わせd Lesbia.
“I don’t know,” George’s 発言する／表明する was 疲れた／うんざりした. “It’s a long story.”
“Drink some more of this,” said Lesbia, 持つ／拘留するing the glass to his pale lips, “and wait until you feel stronger.”
“Oh, I’m much better now,” he replied, 押し進めるing the brandy and water away, “but I shan’t be able to go to the office to-morrow morning.”
“Beg-広告, it’s to-morrow morning already!” said Tim, ちらりと見ることing at the clock. “Half-past twilve as I’m a sinner, an’ here’s 行方不明になる Lesbia an’ mesilf sittin’ up like the 質. Oh, the sowl av me, what will the masther say?”
“What can he say?” 需要・要求するd 行方不明になる Hale tartly. “Father can’t 持つ／拘留する you and me accountable for the 予期しない.”
“予期しない, indeed,” breathed George. “Who would have thought that I would have been struck 負かす／撃墜する on the 牽引するing-path. I can’t guess the 推論する／理由, Lesbia, it’s beyond me.”
“The crass! the crass!” muttered Tim, shaking his shaggy 長，率いる.
“What do you know about it?” 需要・要求するd Lesbia.
“Divil a thing, but that it brings bad luck,” answered Tim sturdily.
“It is not altogether bad luck that George has been brought here for me to …に出席する to him,” she retorted.
“No, dear,” Walker patted her 手渡す, “this 事故 shows me what an angel you are. But how did I come here?”
“Don’t you know who brought you?”
“I know nothing from the time I was struck 負かす／撃墜する on the 牽引するing-path 近づく Medmenham, until the moment I saw you standing in yonder doorway with a candle in your 手渡す.”
Lesbia knitted her pretty brows. “I can’t understand. Some enemy—”
“I have no enemies,” murmured George 前向きに／確かに.
“Then it’s a mystery,” 宣言するd the girl, still more perplexed. “Tell me 正確に／まさに what took place.”
Walker passed his 手渡す wearily across his forehead, for his 長，率いる ached かなり. “After leaving you with your father, darling, I 列／漕ぐ／騒動d 支援する to Medmenham, and went home to the cottage. My mother was not within, as she had gone up to town 早期に in the day and did not ーするつもりである to return until to-morrow—”
“That’s to-day, begob!” interpolated Tim, again looking at the clock.
“Then it is to-day she returns,” said Walker, in a stronger 発言する／表明する, “about three in the afternoon. But to continue, Lesbia, I had my dinner and smoked a 麻薬を吸う. Then I grew restless, wondering if you were having a bad time with your father on my account. I thought he would make things unpleasant for you, and 決定するd to come 負かす／撃墜する and see what had happened. That was about ten o’clock.”
Lesbia patted his 手渡す. “You need not have troubled, dear. My father and I got on very 井戸／弁護士席 together.”
“I did not know that, and so was anxious. I フェリー（で運ぶ）d over the river to the 牽引するing-path, and walked 負かす／撃墜する に向かって Marlow, ーするつもりであるing to cross the 橋（渡しをする） and come here.”
“I was in bed at ten.”
“So soon. I thought you might be sitting up.”
“井戸／弁護士席, I did not 推定する／予想する you, dear,” explained the girl. “As Tim was out on the river, and my father had gone away, I 設立する it dull. I went to bed because I could think of nothing else to do. Then I fancied I heard you calling for help, and （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to find you gagged and bound.”
“I did not call for help because I was gagged,” said George, “and almost insensible. I 推定する／予想する you were dreaming.”
“A very serviceable dream,” said Lesbia drily. “Go on, George, darling.”
“About half way between Medmenham and Marlow, while I was walking along in the moonlight, I heard a soft step behind me, and turned to see a man almost on 最高の，を越す of me. I had not even time to see what he was like, so quickly did he attack me. 目的（とする）ing a blow at my 長，率いる with a bludgeon, he struck me hard, and I fell insensible on the path.”
“And then?”
“Then I woke to find you looking at me in this room. That’s all.”
Lesbia 診察するd her lover searchingly. He wore white flannel trousers, a silk shirt, a white flannel coat, and brown shoes. His panama hat was 行方不明の.
Then Lesbia uttered an exclamation, and pointed to his pockets. All these, both in coat and trousers, were turned inside out, and the buttons of his shirt were undone, as though he had been searched to the 肌. “It’s 強盗,” said Lesbia 堅固に.
“強盗! Impossible! Why should anyone 略奪する a pauper like me? I have nothing.”
“You have the crass!” murmured Tim, who was squatting on the 床に打ち倒す, and who looked like a goblin.
“Tim.” It was Lesbia who spoke. “Do you think that Mr. Walker was attacked to get the amethyst cross?”
“約束, an’ I can’t say, 行方不明になる. But me mother—残り／休憩（する） her sowl—towld me that the crass brought bad luck, and it’s come to Masther Garge here. Maybe it’s only talk, but there you are,” and he pointed to the young man.
Walker 反映するd for a moment or so, while Lesbia turned over Tim’s explanation in her mind. “I daresay he is 権利,” said George pensively, “and you also, Lesbia. I was （判決などを）下すd insensible so that I might be robbed, as is 証明するd by my pockets 存在 turned inside out. As the only article of value I 所有するd was the cross, and I only acquired that yesterday evening, I 推定する／予想する it was the cross this man was after. If so, he must be very much disappointed, for I left your gift in the drawer of my dressing-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, before I （機の）カム to see you at ten o’clock.”
“What was the man like?”
“I told you that I only caught a glimpse of him,” said Walker fretfully, for the conversation 疲れた／うんざりしたd him. “He seemed to be a tall man, and was 概略で dressed. His soft hat was pulled over his 注目する，もくろむs, and—and I know, nothing more about him.”
Seeing that he was still weak, Lesbia stood up. “You can 嘘（をつく） here on the sofa and go to sleep,” she said softly. “To-morrow morning we can talk.”
“But I have to get to London by the eight o’clock train—the office!”
“Bother the office!” said Lesbia inelegantly. “You are not fit to go to the office. Try to sleep. Tim, give me that rug you brought. There, dear,” she tucked him in. “I have left a glass of water beside you. Tim can come in every now and then to see how you are.”
“Augh,” groaned Tim, yawning, “it’s just 同様に, 行方不明になる. I cudn’t 非難する forty winks, wid blue murther about. But the masther will come 支援する after breakfast, an’ what will we say at all, at all?”
“Say,” snapped Lesbia, who was at the door, looking 極端に 疲れた／うんざりした. “Tell the truth, of course. My father will やめる 認可する of what we have done. George, don’t talk to Tim, who is a chatterbox, but go to sleep. You need all you can get, poor boy.”
George, already nearly asleep, murmured an incoherent reply and, leaving Tim to watch over him, Lesbia returned to her room, but not to sleep for at least an hour. Lying on her bed, she tried to fathom the mystery of this 強襲，強姦 upon her unoffending lover. 明らかに the cross had to do with the 事柄, as George had never been attacked before. And then in a flash the girl remembered that her father was desirous of 回復するing the ornament, and 明らかに, from the way in which he had talked, was 用意が出来ている to go to 広大な／多数の／重要な lengths to get it. Could it be that he had struck 負かす／撃墜する her lover? He had been absent all the evening, and would be absent all the night, at Sargent’s Cookham cottage, によれば the message he had left with Tim. He did not like Walker, and moreover was tall, as the 加害者 had been. It really seemed as though Mr. Walter Hale had taken the 法律 into his own 手渡すs and, to get 支援する his 所有物／資産／財産, as he averred the cross to be, had committed something uncommonly like 主要道路 強盗. Lesbia worried over the problem half the night, as she could not believe that her father would 行為／法令／行動する so basely. Finally, に向かって 夜明け she fell into an uneasy sleep.
It was ten o’clock when she woke, and at once her thoughts 逆戻りするd to the late exciting event. No such sensational happening had ever before 乱すd the quietness of the riverside cottage, and the mystery which environed it was an 追加するd fascination. As Lesbia slowly dressed—and in her prettiest frock for the sake of George,—she again wondered if her father was connected with the 強襲，強姦 and the 試みる／企てるd 強盗.
George could only have been attacked for the sake of the amethyst cross, and her father alone—so far as she knew—願望（する）d that cross. Yet if Mr. Hale was 有罪の, why had he brought his 犠牲者 into his own house? No one else could have brought George, for no one else could have entered. Lesbia had no 広大な／多数の／重要な love for her father, since he invariably repelled all her proffers of affection; but she now felt that she could 活発に hate him for his wickedness in so 取引，協定ing with the man she loved. And yet, as she 反映するd when she descended the stairs, she could not be sure that her father was 有罪の, even in the 直面する of such 証拠.
When Lesbia entered the dining-room she 設立する George やめる his old self. The night’s 残り／休憩（する） had done him good, and a 冷淡な bath had refreshed him 大いに. With Tim’s willing 援助 he had made himself presentable and, save for a linen 包帯 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his 長，率いる, looked much the same as he had done on the previous day. He （機の）カム 今後 速く with sparkling 注目する，もくろむs, and took Lesbia in his 武器, murmuring soft and foolish words, after the way of lovers, even いっそう少なく romantic.
“Darling! Darling! Darling! How good you have been to me.”
“I could have done no いっそう少なく for anyone,” replied Lesbia, 主要な him to a 議長，司会を務める. “Sit 負かす／撃墜する, dearest, you are still weak.”
“On the contrary I am やめる strong, although my 長，率いる still aches a trifle from that 臆病な／卑劣な blow. Besides, I am hungry, and there is Tim bringing in a magnificent breakfast. Sweetest and best,” he went on, 主要な her to the 井戸／弁護士席-spread （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, “this is just as if we were married. You at the 最高の，を越す of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and I at the 底（に届く）. Give me a cup of coffee, Lesbia, and I’ll serve out the eggs and ham. Tim, you needn’t wait.”
Tim 不平（をいう）d a trifle, as he loved to wait on Lesbia, But he was an Irishman and 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd a love 事件／事情／状勢. It did not need much cleverness to see that young Walker wished to be alone with his beloved, if only to enjoy the unique 状況／情勢. Tim therefore 出発／死d and the couple had their breakfast in heavenly 孤独. Lesbia wished to talk about the adventure on the 牽引するing-path, and to ask questions, but George 前向きに／確かに 辞退するd to speak of anything save the most frivolous 事柄s.
“Your father will return soon,” he explained, passing his cup for more coffee, “and then I shall have to tell my story all over again. Let us talk about ourselves and of our 未来.”
Lesbia, after a faint 抵抗, was only too pleased to obey, so they had an 極端に pleasant meal. The room was cheerful with the summer sun, which 注ぐd in floods of light and warmth through the windows, and the feeling of spring was still in the 空気／公表する. Most prosaically they enjoyed their food and unromantically ate a large breakfast, but all the time they kept looking at one another and relishing the novel 状況／情勢. It was brought to an end only too speedily by the sudden 入り口 of Mr. Hale. Tall, lean, 冷淡な and 厳しい, he appeared on the threshold, and 星／主役にするd in surprise at the way in which young Walker was taking 所有／入手, not only of his house but of his daughter.
“What the devil does this mean?” asked Hale, politely indignant.
“Look at George’s 長，率いる,” cried Lesbia with a shiver, for her 疑問s returned fortyfold at the sight of her aristocratic father.
“That explains nothing,” said Hale drily, “perhaps, Mr. Walker, you will 請け負う to tell me how it comes that I find you making yourself at home in my poor abode?”
George, who was perfectly 冷静な／正味の and collected, told his story. Hale listened, much more discomposed than he chose to appear, and at the 結論 of the narrative asked one question, which showed where his thoughts were.
“The cross,” he said 熱望して, “have you been robbed of the cross?”
“No,” answered Walker 前向きに／確かに, “although I believe that I was attacked for the sake of it. But luckily I left it in the drawer of my dressing-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Can you guess who attacked me?”
“No,” said Hale coolly, “I cannot.”
“Still, if you know about the cross—”
“I only know that it belonged to my wife and that I want to get it 支援する as soon as possible. Lesbia should never have given it to you. As to your 存在 attacked so that you might be robbed of it, I can’t believe that story. The cross, as a jewel, is not so very 価値のある. Besides, no one but myself and Lesbia and Tim knew that you had it. I 推定する,” ended Hale, in his most sarcastic manner, “that you do not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う any one of us three.”
“Oh no,” 再結合させるd Walker 敏速に, and spoke as he believed in spite of the troubled look which Lesbia cast on him. “Still—”
Hale threw up his 手渡す to interrupt. “We can talk of your adventure later, Mr. Walker. After all, the cross may have something to do with the way in which you were 強襲，強姦d, although—as I said—it appears ありそうもない. I want to 回復する it すぐに, and am the more eager, now that I have heard of your adventure. Give me a 公式文書，認める to your mother 説 that the cross is to be given to me, and I shall 同意 to your marriage with Lesbia.”
George looked at the girl, who nodded. “Let my father have 支援する the cross, since he so 大いに 願望（する）s it,” she said. “I can give you something else, dear. I am willing to 支払う／賃金 that price for my father’s 同意.”
George shrugged his shoulders. “It is immaterial to me,” he said calmly, “so long as you are pleased, dear. I only wished to keep the ornament as your first love-gift to me. Have you a pencil, Mr. Hale. Thank you.”
He scribbled a 公式文書，認める. “To Jenny, our maid-servant,” he explained, when 手渡すing it to the tall, silent man, “she will 収容する／認める you into my bedroom and you will find the cross in the 権利-手渡す drawer of my dressing-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.”
“But your mother—”
“My mother went to London yesterday and will not be 支援する until three o’clock to-day. If you like to wait I can go over with you later.”
“No,” said Hale brusquely, “your mother might make 反対s. I know how difficult she is to を取り引きする. I’ll go myself: you stay here with Lesbia.”
George was nothing loth, and when Mr. Hale 出発／死d he walked with his beloved in the garden. They should have talked of the adventure, and Lesbia should have told George the thought that was uppermost in her mind—すなわち, that her father was cognisant of the 強襲，強姦. But she did not care to make such an 告訴，告発 upon insufficient grounds, and moreover hesitated to 告発する／非難する her father of such a 罪，犯罪. She therefore willingly agreed to 延期する all talk of the adventure until Mr. Hale’s return, and 降伏するd herself to the 楽しみ of the moment. The lovers spent a long morning in the garden of love, 集会 the rosebuds which Herrick recommends should be culled in 青年. Time flew by on golden wings, and Hale was no sooner gone all the way to Medmenham, than he seemed to come 支援する. He could not have been away for more than five minutes, as it appeared to these two enthralled by Love. For them time had no 存在.
But their dream of love fled, when Hale （機の）カム 速く 負かす／撃墜する the path looking both angry and alarmed, and, indeed, perplexed. “The cross has gone,” he said.
“Impossible,” cried George, starting to his feet, astonished. “I left it—”
“The cross has gone,” repeated Hale decisively, “your cottage has been robbed, burgled. I repeat, the cross has gone.”
After 配達するing his message of woe, Mr. Hale sat 負かす／撃墜する on the garden seat under the chestnut tree, and mechanically flicked the dust from his neat brown shoes with a silk handkerchief. He was perfectly arrayed as usual, and on account of the heat of the day wore a 控訴 of spotless 演習, 冷静な／正味の and clean-looking. But if his 着せる／賦与するs were 冷静な／正味の he certainly was not, for his usually colourless 直面する was 紅潮／摘発するd a 深い red and his 注目する，もくろむs sparkled with 怒り／怒る. Lesbia, who had risen with George, looked at him with compunction in her heart. After all—so her thoughts ran—she had 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd her father wrongly. If he had attacked George to 回復する this unlucky cross, he assuredly would not now be lamenting its loss. And yet if he were innocent, who was 有罪の, considering the few people who knew that the ornament was in 存在? Tim might—but it was impossible to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う Tim Burke, who was the soul of honesty.
“井戸／弁護士席,” said Hale crossly, “what is to be done?”
He looked 直接／まっすぐに at George, who 直面するd him standing, with a look of perplexity on his handsome 直面する. “Are you sure that the house has been robbed?” he asked doubtfully.
Mr. Hale shrugged his shoulders. “I usually say what I mean,” he 発言／述べるd acridly. “I took your 公式文書，認める to Medmenham, and 設立する the 地元の policeman conversing with your mother’s servant. From her I learned what had taken place, and, indeed, she was telling the constable when I （機の）カム up.”
“井戸／弁護士席?”
“It seems,” 追求するd Hale, producing a cigar, “that Jenny—as she is called—”
“Yes, yes!” broke in Walker impatiently, “go on.”
“井戸／弁護士席, then, Jenny rose this morning to find the window of the 製図／抽選-room wide open. Nothing was touched in that room. But your bedroom was ransacked 完全に. Your 着せる／賦与するs were strewn about, and 明らかに every pocket had been 診察するd. The drawers were opened, and even the bed had been 精密検査するd. There was no 調印する of the 夜盗，押し込み強盗, and Jenny 断言するs that—sleeping at the 支援する of the house—she heard nothing.”
“And what has been stolen?” asked Lesbia, hesitatingly.
“Only the cross.”
“Are you sure?”
“絶対! I gave Jenny the 公式文書，認める and together with the policeman who, by the way, is a bucolic idiot, she took me to the bedroom. I 診察するd the 権利-手渡す drawer which was open, as were all the other drawers, and 設立する that the cross was 行方不明の. Jenny 宣言するd that nothing else had been taken. Of course the girl was in a 広大な／多数の／重要な 明言する／公表する of alarm, as she was the 単独の person in the house, and she 恐れるd lest she should be （刑事）被告. Also, and very 自然に, she was surprised at your 存在 away, Walker.”
George nodded. “I daresay. It is rarely that I sleep away from home, and when I do I give notice. Humph!” he sat 負かす／撃墜する on the grass opposite Mr. Hale and gripped his ankles. “What do you think, sir?”
Hale made a vague 動議 of despair. “What can I think? I know as much as you do, and nothing more. Would you mind my putting you in the 証言，証人／目撃する-box, Walker?”
“By no means. Ask what questions you 願望（する）.”
“And I shall be counsel for the defence,” said Lesbia, sitting 負かす／撃墜する beside her lover with rather a wry smile. It appeared to her that Mr. Hale wished to 解任する his 申し込む／申し出 to let the marriage take place: also that he wished to get George into trouble if he could. But how he 提案するd to do so the girl could not tell. However she was anxious and listened with all her ears. Mr. Hale raised his eyebrows at her 半端物 speech, but took no その上の notice of it. He was too much 利益／興味d in his examination.
“Lesbia,” said Mr. Hale 静かに, “gave you the cross yesterday evening in my presence, so to speak. What did you do with it?”
“I slipped it into my breast-pocket,” said Walker 敏速に, “and 列／漕ぐ／騒動d 支援する to Medmenham, as you saw. On arriving, I placed it for safety in the drawer of my dressing-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Then, later, as I explained at breakfast, I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to see Lesbia and was 強襲，強姦d by an unknown man.”
“Did you show the cross to anyone, say to Jenny?”
“No. And if I had shown it to Jenny, it would not have 事柄d. You do not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う an honest girl like her, I 推定する.”
“Honest girls may 産する／生じる to the 誘惑 of stealing such a 罰金 ornament as the cross,” said Hale drily. “However, it may 始める，決める your mind at 残り／休憩（する） if I say that I don’t 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う Jenny. Had she stolen the cross, she would not have had the imagination to upset the room and leave the window open, so as to 示唆する 押し込み強盗. But think again, Walker; did you show the cross to anyone after leaving this garden?”
“No,” said George 前向きに／確かに, “I certainly did not, that is, not 任意に.”
“Ah! then some one else did see it,” said Hale, with satisfaction and with 示すd 切望. “Come, man, speak up.”
“I had almost forgotten,” said Walker slowly. “Perhaps the blow on my 長，率いる made me forget; but I remember now.”
“Remember what?” asked Lesbia, as eager as her father.
“That those gipsies saw the cross.”
“Gipsies?” Hale and his daughter ちらりと見ることd at one another.
“Yes. I was walking up the 小道／航路 to my home when I passed a gipsy 野営. While doing so I pulled out my handkerchief, and the cross—which I had placed in my breast-pocket—fell out. The handkerchief twitched it, I suppose. It flashed 負かす／撃墜する on the grass, and the glitter caught the 注目する，もくろむ of a man lounging 近づく the caravan. He （機の）カム 今後 and pointed out where it had fallen, as I had not noticed its どの辺に for the moment. By the time I 選ぶd it up two or three of the gipsies had gathered 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, and saw me 回復する it to my pocket. Then I thanked the man and went home.”
Lesbia clapped her 手渡すs. “Why it is perfectly plain,” she cried, delighted. “That man must have 強襲，強姦d you on the 牽引するing-path to steal the cross. Not finding it on you, he robbed the house. What do you think, father?”
Hale nodded. “I think as you do. So the best thing to be done will be to come and see the constable, or the 視察官 here in Marlow. We must have those gipsies searched before they go away. The 野営 was still there this morning; but I saw 調印するs of 除去.”
George leaped to his feet. “Yes, it must be so” he cried 熱望して. “I daresay the man robbed me—the cross 存在 flamboyant is just the thing which would attract him.”
“Then we must see the 視察官. I must get the cross 支援する. It is a pity I remained at Cookham last night with Sargent. Had I been here, I should have gone at once to Medmenham.”
“But it was midnight, father.”
“I don’t care. The mere fact that Walker here was 強襲，強姦d would have 証明するd to me that the cross was 手配中の，お尋ね者. Since he left it at home the どろぼう would probably have burgled the house. I might have caught him 現行犯で. Oh, why didn’t I come home last night?”
Mr. Hale was genuinely moved over the loss of the ornament. And yet Lesbia could not think that it was mere sentimental attachment thereto, as having belonged to his dead wife, that made him so downcast. Also in itself the cross was of comparatively little value. Lesbia’s 疑惑s returned, and again she 解任するd them as unworthy. Moreover, if Hale had 強襲，強姦d George and had committed a 押し込み強盗 he would not be so eager to 始める，決める the police on the 跡をつける. Whosoever was 有罪の he at least must be innocent. 冷淡な as her father was to her, and little affection as she bore him, it was agreeable to find that he was honest—though, to be sure, every child 推定する／予想するs to find its parents above reproach. Perhaps a sixth sense told Lesbia that her father was not all he should be. In no other way could she guess how she （機の）カム to be so ready to think ill of him. But up to the 現在の, she had 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd him wrongly, and so was pleased.
Hale and young Walker went to the Marlow police-office and explained in concert what had occurred. The officer in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 駅／配置する heard their tale unmoved, as it was nothing more exciting than a 強盗 by a vagabond. He went with them 本人自身で to Medmenham, and there met the village constable, who 現在のd his 報告（する）／憶測. This did not 含む any 言及／関連 to gipsies. His superior—whose 指名する was Parson—questioned him, and learned that the どろぼう or thieves had left no trace behind, and—on the 証拠 of Jenny the maid—had stolen nothing save the cross. Parson then went to Mrs. Walker’s house and questioned the girl.
Jenny was 自然に much agitated, but was 安心させるd by George, who 宣言するd that no one 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd her. “I should think not, sir,” she cried, 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing up and growing red. “I didn’t even know that the cross you speak of was in the house. You never showed it to me, sir.”
“No,” 定評のある Walker truthfully, “I certainly did not.”
“Did you see any of those gipsies lurking about the house?” asked Parson.
“No,” said Jenny 前向きに／確かに, “I did not. Mr. George went out for a walk at ten o’clock, and I lay 負かす／撃墜する at half-past. I never knew anything, or heard anything, or guessed anything. When I got up at seven, as usual, and went to dust the 製図／抽選-room, I 設立する the window open. And that didn’t 脅す me, as I thought Mr. George might have opened it when he got up.”
“But you knew that he was not in the house?” said Hale alertly.
“I never did, sir. I went to wake him after I 設立する the 製図／抽選-room window open, and 設立する that he hadn’t been to bed. The room was upset too, just as you saw it. If I’d known that I was alone in the cottage I should have been 脅すd out of my life; but I thought Mr. George （機の）カム in late, and had gone to bed as usual. I nearly fainted, I can tell you,” cried Jenny tearfully. “Fancy a weak girl like me 存在 left alone with them horrid gipsies 負かす／撃墜する the 小道／航路! But I slept through it all, and I never saw no gipsies about. When I saw the bedroom upset and that Mr. George wasn’t there, I called in Quain the policeman. That’s all I know, and if missus does give me notice when she comes 支援する I’d have her know that I’m a respectable girl as doesn’t 略奪する anyone.”
Jenny had much more to say on the 支配する, but all to no 目的; so the three men went to the （軍の）野営地，陣営. They 設立する the 浮浪者s making 準備s to leave, and すぐに were in the middle of what 約束d to be a 解放する／自由な fight. The gipsies were most indignant at 存在 （刑事）被告, and but for a 確かな awe of the police would certainly have come to blows with those who 疑問d their honesty. The man who had seen the cross accounted for his movements on the previous night. He was in the village public-house until eleven, so could not have 強襲，強姦d Walker on the 牽引するing-path, and afterwards was in bed in one of the caravans, as was 退位させる／宣誓証言するd to by his wife. In fact, every member of this particular tribe—they were mostly Lovels from the New Forest—証明するd that he or she had nothing to do with either the 強襲，強姦 or 押し込み強盗. Finally, Parson, 完全に beaten, 出発／死d with the other two men, and the gipsies proceeded to move away in a high 明言する／公表する of indignation.
“Do you really think that they are innocent?” asked Hale, who 調査するd the 行列 of 去っていく／社交的な caravans with a frown.
“Yes, I do,” said Parson, who was not going to be taught his 商売／仕事 by any 非軍事の.
“So do I,” struck in Walker. “All the men who saw the cross have accounted for their どの辺に last night. They were not 近づく my mother’s house, nor across the river on the 牽引するing-path.”
Hale smiled drily. He had no opinion of Walker’s 知能, or of that which Mr. Parson 所有するd. “Rogues and vagabonds—as these people are—stand by one another, and will 断言する to anything to keep one of their number out of gaol. I don’t put much 約束 in the さまざまな アリバイs. You should have searched the caravans, officer.”
“And the men and women also, I suppose, sir,” said Parson 静かに. “I had no 令状 to do so, let me remind you. Even gipsies have their 特権s under the English 法律. Also, if anyone of these men were 有罪の, he could easily have passed the cross to one of the women, or buried it. I might have searched and 設立する nothing, only to lay myself open to a lecture from my superiors.”
“Still,” began Hale, unwilling to 降伏する his point of 見解（をとる）, “let me remind you, Mr. Parson, that—”
“And let me remind you, sir,” broke in the officer stiffly, “that only this ornament you speak of was stolen. If a gipsy had broken into the house he would certainly have taken other things. And again, no gipsy could have carried Mr. Walker into your parlour, seeing that not one member of the tribe is aware of your 存在, much いっそう少なく where your cottage is 据えるd. I am ignorant on that 得点する／非難する／２０ myself.”
Having thus 配達するd himself with some 怒り／怒る, for the supercilious demeanour of Hale irritated him, Parson strode away. He intimated curtly to the two men, as he turned on his heel, that if he heard of anything likely to elucidate the mystery he would communicate with them: also he advised them if they 設立する a 手がかり（を与える） to see him.
Hale laughed at this last request. “I fancy I see myself placing the 事例／患者 in the 手渡すs of such a numskull.”
George shook his 長，率いる. “If you do not 雇う the police, who is to look into the 事柄?” he asked 厳粛に.
The answer was 予期しない.
“You are,” said Hale, coldly and decisively.
George stopped—they were walking 支援する to Marlow when this conversation took place—and 星／主役にするd in amazement at his companion. “Why, I am the very worst person in the world to help you,” he said, aghast.
“To help yourself, you mean. Remember I 約束d to 同意 to your marriage to Lesbia only on 条件 that I got 支援する the cross.”
“It is not my fault that the cross is lost.”
“I never said that it was,” retorted Hale, tartly. “All the same you will have to find it and return it to me before I will agree to your marriage with my daughter. It would have been much better had you 手渡すd it over to me last night.”
“I daresay,” said George, somewhat sulkily, “but I’m not the man to give up anything when the 需要・要求する is made in such a トン as you used. Besides, I don’t see how I can find the cross.”
“Please yourself, my boy. But unless you do, Lesbia marries Sargent.”
“Sargent!” The 血 急ぐd to Walker’s cheeks and his 発言する／表明する shook with indignation. “Do you mean to say that you would give your daughter to that broken rake, to that worn-out—
“Ta! Ta! Ta!” said Hale, in an airy French fashion, and glad to see the young man lose his temper. “Sargent is my very good friend and was my brother officer when I was in the army. He would make Lesbia an excellent husband, as he is handsome and 井戸／弁護士席-off and amiable, and—”
“And an idiot, a gambler, and a—”
“You’d better not let him hear you talk like that.”
Walker laughed. “I 恐れる no one, let me tell you, Mr. Hale. Mr. Sargent or Captain Sargent as he calls himself—”
“He has every 権利 to call himself so. He was a captain.”
“It is not usually thought good manners to continue the 肩書を与える after a man has left the army,” said George drily, and 回復するing his temper, which he saw he should never have lost with a 常習的な man like Hale. “You, for instance, do not call yourself—”
“There! There! that’s enough, Walker,” cried the 年上の man impatiently. “You know my 条件. That cross and my 同意: さもなければ Lesbia marries Sargent.”
“She loves me: she will never obey you,” cried the lover 猛烈に.
“I shall find means to 強要する her 同意,” said Hale coldly. “Surely, Mr. Walker, you have ありふれた sense at your age. Sargent has money and a 確かな position you have neither.”
“I can make a position.”
“Then go and do so. When you are rich and 高度に-placed we can talk.”
Hale was as hard as アイロンをかける and as 冷淡な. There seemed to be no chance of getting what was 手配中の，お尋ね者 by 控訴，上告ing to his tender feelings, since he had 非，不，無 どれでも. But after swift reflection Walker thought of something which might make the man change his mind.
“Listen, Mr. Hale,” he said, when Lesbia’s father was on the point of moving away from a conversation which he 設立する 無益な and disagreeable. “I did not ーするつもりである to tell you, but as my 約束／交戦 with Lesbia is at 火刑／賭ける I will make a clean breast of it.”
Hale wheeled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する with a 冷淡な light in his 注目する，もくろむs. “Are you going to 自白する that you stole the cross and got up a comedy to hide the 窃盗?”
George laughed. “I am not clever enough for that. But it is about a possible fortune that I wish to speak—one that may come to me through my mother.”
“A fortune.” Hale 紅潮／摘発するd, for only the について言及する of money could touch his hard nature. “I never knew that your mother had money.”
“She has not now, but she may have.”
“Go on,” said Hale, seeing that the young man hesitated, and watching him with glittering 注目する，もくろむs. “I have known your mother for years, but she never told me either that she had money or 推定する／予想するd any.”
“I should not tell you either,” said Walker bluntly, “and so I hesitated. I have no 商売／仕事 to 干渉する with my mother’s 事件／事情／状勢s. However, I must speak since I want to marry Lesbia.”
“I am all attention.”
“My grandfather left his large fortune 平等に divided between his two daughters. One was my mother; and her husband, my father, ran through the lot, leaving her only a trifle to live on. I help to keep her.”
“This,” said Hale coldly, “I already know.”
“But what you don’t know is that my aunt—my mother’s sister, that is, ran away with some unknown person during her father’s lifetime. He was angry, but forgave her on his death-bed and left her a fair 株 of the money—that is half. As my mother 相続するd fifty thousand, there is an equal 量 in the 手渡すs of Mr. Simon Jabez, a lawyer in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, waiting for my aunt should she ever come 支援する.”
“And if she does not?” asked Hale anxiously.
“Then, if her death can be 証明するd, the money comes to my mother.”
“Humph! But you say your aunt ran away with someone—to marry the man, I suppose. What if there is a child?”
Walker’s 直面する fell. “The child 相続するs,” he said softly.
Hale laughed 厳しく. “You have 設立する a 損なう’s nest,” he said coolly, “and I see no 推論する／理由 to change my 決定／判定勝ち（する） with regard to your possible marriage with Lesbia. Your aunt may be alive and may appear to （人命などを）奪う，主張する the money. If she is dead, her child or children may come 今後. On the other 手渡す, if your mother does come in for the fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs you speak of she is, as I know, a hard woman.”
“I agree with you,” said the young man, moodily and sadly. “She is as hard as you are, Mr. Hale. But if she 相続するs my grandfather’s money—that is, my aunt’s 株—she has no one to leave it to but me. I am an only child.”
“Your mother,” said Hale deliberately, “is hard as you say; that is, she is as sensible as I am. If you marry against her will, she will not leave you one farthing of this money, which, after all, may never come into her 所有／入手.”
“But why should she 反対する to Lesbia?” asked George, “when she 会合，会うs her and sees how lovely she is—”
“Bah!” Hale looked scornful, “you talk like a fool. As if any woman was ever moved by the beauty of another woman. Besides, your mother hates me; we are old enemies, and rather than see you marry my daughter she would go to your funeral with joy. If you married against her will—as you assuredly would in making Lesbia your wife—she would leave you nothing. And I also dislike the match on account of your mother.”
“But why are you her enemy, and she yours?” asked George, bewildered.
“That is a long story and one which I do not ーするつもりである to relate unless driven to speak. If Lesbia marries you she will lose two thousand a year which I can give her when I die. If you want to drag the girl you love 負かす／撃墜する to poverty, Mr. Walker, then marry her 内密に. I tell you that if you make Lesbia your wife neither I nor your mother will help you.”
“And yet you said—”
“That you could make Lesbia your wife, if you 設立する the cross. Yes, I did say that, and I still say it. If you get me the cross, you shall marry her and have the two thousand a year when I die. But it would be wiser for you to leave Lesbia alone and marry—”
“Marry whom?” asked George, his cheeks 炎上ing.
“Maud Ellis,” retorted Hale with a sneering laugh, and turned away.
After that one 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の adventure which broke so remarkably the monotony of George Walker’s life, things went very 滑らかに for a time. That is, they 進歩d in their usual humdrum way, which was trying to the young man’s ambitious spirits. He 手配中の，お尋ね者 to marry Lesbia, to make a home for her, to 達成する a position, which her beauty would adorn; and he saw no means of doing so. He went 定期的に to the office, earned his small salary, and dreamed dreams which could never be realised, at least, there appeared to be no chance of realisation. What could a man of 穏健な attainments, with no money and no friends, hope to do in the way of cutting a 人物／姿／数字 in the world?
Mrs. Walker duly returned home, and Jenny gave her a 高度に-coloured account of the 押し込み強盗, which she heard in 厳しい silence. She was a tall, grim woman with a hard 直面する and a stiff manner, and was invariably arrayed in plain 黒人／ボイコット gowns devoid of any trimming whatever. Her hair, still dark in spite of her age, was smoothed over her 寺s in the plain 早期に Victorian manner, and her pale countenance was as smooth as that of a young girl. That she was a gentlewoman could easily be seen, but her manner was repellent and 怪しげな. Also, her thin lips and hard grey 注目する，もくろむs did not 招待する sympathy. How such a Puritanical person ever （機の）カム to have a handsome, gracious son such as George, perplexed more than one person. The general opinion was that he 相続するd his looks and his charm of manner from his late father. 報告（する）／憶測 credited the Honourable Aylmer Walker with more fascination than 原則. And truth to tell, his posthumous 評判 was better than that which he had enjoyed when living.
Having ascertained the facts of the 押し込み強盗 and the loss of the amethyst cross, Mrs. Walker held her peace, and did not discuss the 支配する with her son. George, indeed, 投機・賭けるd upon a lame explanation, which she received in dead silence. After the hint given by Mr. Hale, the young man was not desirous of 公表する／暴露するing his 約束／交戦 to Lesbia, and a discussion about the stolen cross would 必然的に lead to the truth becoming known to Mrs. Walker. Sooner or later he knew that he would have to speak, but he 延期するd doing so until he could see his 未来 more 明確に. If he could only procure a better 地位，任命する in the City, he could then afford to keep Lesbia in comparative 慰安, and pass a love-in-a-cottage 存在. But until he was in a position to do so, he 避けるd confiding in his mother. Also, Mrs. Walker was not a 同情的な mother, and would certainly not have encouraged the young man’s love-dream.
But one evening Mrs. Walker 突然に broached the 支配する at dinner. This was seven days after the adventure of the cross, and during that time George had never 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on Lesbia. Several times he had 列／漕ぐ／騒動d as usual to the garden’s foot, but had waited in vain for the girl’s 外見. An 調査 at the house 刺激するd no 返答, as neither Tim nor Lesbia （機の）カム to the 急速な／放蕩な-の近くにd door. George in despair had written, but to his anxious letter had received no reply. Lesbia remained silent and the cottage 閉めだした and bolted, so George began to believe that Hale had 密輸するd away his daughter, lest she should elope with the lover of whom he so 堅固に disapproved. This 明言する／公表する of 不確定 wore Walker’s 神経s thin, and he lost his appetite and his night’s 残り／休憩（する）. Mechanically he went to Tait’s office, did his daily work, and returned home again, fretting all the time after the girl who was beyond his reach. He even tried to see Mr. Hale, but that gentleman was 目だつ by his absence. Never was a lover in so dismal a 状況／情勢.
On this especial evening George, in evening dress, 直面するd his silent mother at the dinner-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Mrs. Walker wore a plain 黒人／ボイコット silk gown, perfectly 削減（する）, but wholly unadorned. Like Mr. Hale, she always 主張するd upon a 確かな style 存在 観察するd and dined, so to speak, in 明言する／公表する. The tiny room was 井戸／弁護士席 furnished with the 残余s of her former 繁栄, and looked like the abode of a gentlewoman. Nothing could have been more perfect than the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する 任命s and, if the food was plain, the way in which it was served left nothing to be 願望（する）d. Jenny, neatly dressed, waited deftly and, at the 結論 of the dinner, placed a decanter of port before George, along with a silver box of cigarettes and a dainty silver spirit lamp.
As a 支配する, Mrs. Walker withdrew at this moment to enjoy her coffee in the 製図／抽選-room, while George sipped his ワイン and trifled with a cigarette, but on this occasion she remained. “You can bring my coffee here,” she said to Jenny, in her unemotional 発言する／表明する.
George wondered at this 出発 from the usual 決まりきった仕事, for his mother had never broken the 国内の 支配する she had 学校／設けるd as far 支援する as he could remember. However, he did not feel called upon to say anything but 注ぐd out a glass of port, and lighted a cigarette. When Mrs. Walker 得るd her coffee, and Jenny had 出発／死d, she spoke to her son through the 集会 twilight.
“I have received a letter from Mr. Hale,” said Mrs. Walker in her coldest 発言する／表明する, and sat bolt upright with her 注目する，もくろむs on the comely blonde 直面する of her son.
“What!” George 紅潮／摘発するd and started, and laughed nervously. “That is very strange,” he said after a pause, “Mr. Hale has never written to you before.”
“There are 推論する／理由s why he should not have written to me before, as there are 推論する／理由s why he 令状s to me now.”
“May I know those 推論する／理由s?” asked George 静かに, but inwardly anxious.
“Certainly!” Mrs. Walker was disagreeable but 過度に polite, as she never forgot her manners, whatever the 誘発. “In fact, I have waited to explain them. But I think you had better tell me your story first.”
“What story?”
“That of your 約束／交戦 to Lesbia Hale, and of the cross which was stolen from this cottage.”
“What!” George rose restlessly and grew redder than ever. “You know—”
“I know everything,” said his mother imperiously. “Mr. Hale is annoyed by the way in which you are haunting his Marlow cottage, and has asked me to use my 影響（力） with you to stop the annoyance.”
“That is やめる likely,” 再結合させるd George, ガス／煙ing, “but I 拒絶する／低下する to give up Lesbia. Mr. Hale knows that.”
“He knows, 明らかに, that you are obstinate and foolish,” said Mrs. Walker in a chilly manner. “And as your infatuation—for it is nothing else—can lead to nothing, I must ask you to stop these hopeless visits.”
“Mother, if you knew Lesbia—”
“I know that Lesbia is the daughter of a man whom I despise and hate,” said Mrs. Walker, moved to 冷淡な 怒り／怒る, “and my son shall never marry her.”
“You have not the 力／強力にする to stop the marriage,” said George 静かに.
“That is やめる true. I have no money to 脅す disinheritance, and no 合法的な 力／強力にする over a man who is of age. I might indeed 控訴，上告 to your affection, but I 恐れる that it would be useless.”
George flung his cigarette out of the window, and thrust his 手渡すs moodily into his pockets. “Affection is a strange word to use between us, mother,” he 発言／述べるd 激しく. “You have always been strict and straightforward, and painfully polite. You have given me a good education, and you have 教えるd me in good manners. My home,” he looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, “or rather your home, you 許す me to 株.”
“容赦 me, George, you forget that you 与える／捧げる to the 国内の economy of this home, such as it is. Go on.”
“I mean,” cried George 猛烈に, for her manner 冷気／寒がらせるd him, “that you have never been a mother to me in the 受託するd sense of the word.”
“I have done my 義務,” said Mrs. Walker without flinching.
“義務! 義務! what is 義務 when I 手配中の，お尋ね者 love? I have lived in a 氷点の atmosphere which has nearly changed me into a statue. Can you wonder that I sought out someone to love?”
“Perhaps not, since you are young and foolish, but I 悔いる that the someone should be a girl that I cannot かもしれない receive as my daughter-in-法律.”
“What do you mean by that?” 需要・要求するd George はっきりと.
“Nothing detrimental to the girl,” replied Mrs. Walker calmly. “She may have all the beauty in the world, and all the virtues, and probably has, in your 注目する，もくろむs, but she is Walter Hale’s daughter and so cannot be 地雷.”
“Why do you hate Mr. Hale, mother?”
“That,” said Mrs. Walker, sitting very upright, “is my 私的な 商売／仕事.”
“But when it 干渉するs with my happiness—”
“I cannot help that,” she said rigorously. “What is past is past, and what is dead is dead.”
“I don’t understand you.”
“I do not mean that you should. But I would point out that your 協会 with this girl, has already led you into danger. You have been 強襲，強姦d and robbed, and have come into 接触する with the police, which is always 望ましくない. 放棄する Lesbia, George, lest worse 生じる.”
“The 強盗 and the 強襲，強姦 are mysteries.”
“非，不，無 the いっそう少なく they are dangerous. I can explain no more than you can; but Mr. Hale is a dangerous person, to my knowledge, and—”
“Tell me what you know,” interpolated her son.
“No,” said Mrs. Walker, with アイロンをかける 決意. “It would do no good to break the silence of years. All I can say is that you shall never marry the girl with my 同意.”
“And if I do without it,” chafed George, irritably.
“Then you will never 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on me again,” returned Mrs. Walker 静かに.
“Mother!”
The woman calmly finished her coffee and rose noiselessly. “The time may come when I can explain,” she said in her 正確な 発言する／表明する. “一方／合間 I can only 命令（する） you, or implore you—whichever you please—to leave this girl alone and go no more to the Marlow cottage.”
“I don’t see why I should obey you blindly,” cried George 怒って. “At least give me a 推論する／理由 for your 反対 to Lesbia.”
“I have given it: she is the daughter of Walter Hale.”
“And are the sins of the father—whatever they may be—to be visited upon the child, mother?”
“引用するing the Bible will not alter my 決意,” said Mrs. Walker, 絶対 冷淡な and impassive. “You must do as I request or be 用意が出来ている to see me no more.”
“Mother, can you not explain about this mysterious cross—”
“No.”
“You 辞退する to.”
“I mean that I cannot. I know nothing about the cross, or about the 強襲，強姦 made on you, or indeed about the 押し込み強盗. All I do know is that Mr. Hale is a dangerous man, and is connected with dangerous people—what has occurred 証明するs it.”
“But surely you don’t think that Mr. Hale is connected with these mysteries?”
“I think nothing because I know nothing!” She moved 速く 今後 and placed a わずかな／ほっそりした 手渡す on her son’s 幅の広い shoulder. “Be wise and give up this girl. The wife who is waiting for you will 控訴 you better.”
George grew crimson. “The wife!” he stammered.
“Maud Ellis! Mr. Tait’s niece. She loves you, and she has told me so. If you marry her she will bring you money, and her uncle will 今後 your 利益／興味s. To-morrow you are stopping for the week-end at Mr. Tait’s house. Before you return here on Monday ask Maud to be your wife.”
“I shall do nothing of the sort,” said George ひどく. “How can I 提案する to one girl, when I love another?”
“Maud Ellis adores you, George.”
“I know she does: it seems conceited to say so, but I am やめる aware of her adoration. And I don’t like it. She is rich and handsome and all the 残り／休憩（する） of it, and a marriage with her, means my getting on in the office. All the same, I—I—I—” he hesitated, then finished his 宣告，判決 with a 急ぐ, “I love Lesbia, so there is no more to be said.”
Mrs. Walker 除去するd her 手渡す and glided to the door again, her 冷淡な self. “I やめる agree with you,” she said, exasperatingly 冷静な／正味の. “However, you know my 決意. 行為／法令／行動する as you please.”
“And affection?” called out George as she opened the door.
“Must give way to commonsense.”
When alone, the young man dropped into a 議長，司会を務める and looked moodily at the disordered dinner-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. He was very much to be pitied for having such a mother. Of a warm affectionate nature, George hungered for some 反対する upon which to expend his love. Mrs. Walker had always been a granite image, unapproachable and 冷気／寒がらせる. No 疑問 she was fond of her handsome son in her own 冷淡な way, but she had never given him the maternal love he craved for. It was small wonder that the boy had gone afield to find some satisfaction for his craving. Lesbia 供給（する）d the want, and on her 味方する 設立する the same joy as her lover in their 相互の affection. Mr. Hale in his way was as 冷淡な and repellent to her as Mrs. Walker was to her son. Yet these two people, not giving the longed-for love themselves to their children, were trying to 略奪する hungry hearts of spiritual sustenance—a dog-in-a-manger 態度 which did not commend itself to George.
He felt that he and Lesbia were 厳しく alone, conscious only of each other and environed by mysteries, which neither could understand. Mr. Hale could explain, and so could Mrs. Walker, but no explanation was volunteered, and George did not know where to look for an elucidation of their several 態度s. Mrs. Walker certainly professed herself ignorant of the amethyst cross mystery, and 明らかに spoke truly, as her dislike to the match with Lesbia appeared to be wholly based upon her 憎悪 of Walter Hale. And that 憎悪 had to do with Hale’s past, of which George knew as little as he did of the past of his mother. But Hale knew something about the cross, which accounted for his 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の behaviour, although he 宣言するd that he did not know who had stolen it. George was also 大いに perplexed to know who had taken him to the Marlow cottage while he was insensible. Sitting in the 議長，司会を務める with his 注目する，もくろむs on the ground, he frowningly perplexed himself with these problems. It was all of no use, so he 小衝突d aside the troubles and, after changing his evening dress for boating flannels, went to the river. He hoped by 演習 to rid himself of these phantoms, so indistinct and yet so real.
Having 開始する，打ち上げるd his boat and settled to work, George spun 負かす／撃墜する the stream, the 現在の and his own 成果／努力s carrying him along with what appeared to be 雷 速度(を上げる）. The attention 要求するd in looking after the slight （手先の）技術 妨げるd his thinking of his mysterious troubles, and his spirits began to rise. At Henley lock his course was stayed, for as he swung into the gates he became aware that another boat was in the lock, and that Tim 占領するd that same strange shallop.
The two men recognised one another at once, and a very natural question leaped to Walker’s lips.
“Lesbia?” he gasped.
“Thrue for ye,” 不平（をいう）d Tim, who looked more misshapen that ever in the 薄暗い light. “It’s from the young mistress I come. Whist now, sor, an’ let me （疑いを）晴らす out av this divil of a place.”
George 支援するd his boat out of the lock and Tim muttering under his breath, followed closely. Then the little man paddled his clumsy （手先の）技術 into the 近づく bank, and beckoned George to come also. In a few minutes the two boats were amongst the rustling sedges 味方する by 味方する, and Walker waited breathlessly for Tim to speak.
The sky was filling with 影をつくる／尾行するs, but there was 十分な light for George to see that Tim looked both sorrowful and worried. The sight of the dwarfs sad 直面する 生き返らせるd his terrors.
“Lesbia,” cried George again, and gripped Tim’s arm ひどく. “She is 井戸／弁護士席?”
“井戸／弁護士席 in 団体／死体 but sick of heart,” said Tim dismally. “Augh, the poor mistress, and how can she be 井戸／弁護士席 wid the divil’s divarsions bein’ played 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her?”
“I have tried to see her—”
“Divil a 疑問 of it, sor. And ye’ve sint letthers likewise.”
“She never answered,” breathed George sadly.
“An’ how cud she whin she nivir recaved thim same. Answer me that now, sor.”
George sat bolt upright in his boat. “Never got my letters! Then how—”
“Ah, be aisy now, me dear young masther,” pleaded Tim, and took a tiny 公式文書，認める from his pocket. “This was all the mistress cud 令状, 存在 watched like a mouse, an’ by a cat too, divil take the slut.”
George scarcely heard what Tim was 説. He was devouring two or three lines of Lesbia’s dear 令状ing, which 明言する／公表するd that she would always be true to him, and that Tim would 明らかにする／漏らす all.
“明らかにする／漏らす what,” cried the young man, kissing the letter before transferring it to his pocket.
“The divil’s divarsions,” 不平（をいう）d Tim. “令状 an answer, sor.”
“I have no pencil, no paper,” said George in 狼狽. “But tell me 正確に／まさに what has occurred, Tim, and then I’ll see what can be done.”
Tim nodded. “Sure, it’s dying for you she is, me dear sor. The masther wants her to marry the Captain, bad luck to his sowl!”
“I know that, but—”
“Howld yer whist, sor,” growled the little man, flinging up his long arm. “I have mighty little time to spake. The masther doesn’t 信用 me, forby he knows I wish to see me dear mistress happy wid you, sor, so he’s got a she-divil in the house, Mrs. Petty by 指名する, who kapes a watch inside. Thin there’s Captain Sargent’s man. The 影をつくる／尾行する they call him for his thin looks, though Canning is his 指名する, bad luck to it. He watches outside, an’ whin your boat comes in sight he passes the worrd to Mrs. Petty an’ she—may the father av lies 飛行機で行く away wid her—shuts 行方不明になる Lesbia in her room.”
“But this is tyranny!” cried George, exasperated. “Do you mean to say that Mr. Hale has his daughter watched in this manner?”
“Ay an’ I do, and he’ll have her watched till she goes to church wid Captain Sargent, or until ye git 支援する that crass. But nivir 恐れる, sor, 行方不明になる Lesbia has a 罰金 spirit of her own, and she’ll stick to ye through 厚い an’ thin, like the 勇敢に立ち向かう young lady she is.”
“What’s to be done?” asked George, in 狼狽.
Tim leaned 今後. “令状 a bit av a letther and sind it to me, Mister Timothy Burke, Rose Cottage, Marlow. Thim two divils, Mrs. Petty an’ The 影をつくる／尾行する, to say nothin’ av the masther, won’t stop that. Thin I’ll find means to pass it to the mistress.”
“Yes! Yes, Tim. I’ll do that. But the tyranny—”
“Whist now, for time passes, me dear sor. I heard the masther sayin’ that Captain Sargent was goin’ to stay wid Mr. Tait at Hinley. Spake to him, sor, to that same Captain.”
“But what can I say?” 需要・要求するd George, more and more perplexed.
“Sor,” cried Tim gruffly, “as ye’re a man ye can break the 長，率いる of the divil.” And with this advice Tim 押し進めるd his boat again into midstream.
Mr. Michael Tait dealt principally in 在庫／株s and 株, but was not above any 計画／陰謀, however wild or however shady, which 約束d to result in large 利益（をあげる）s. His motto was: “Make money honestly if you can, but make money!” and he 終始一貫して 行為／法令／行動するd up to this advice throughout a long career of 憶測. He was not so much a spider sitting in a web to 誘惑する unwary 飛行機で行くs, as an octopus who stretched out tentacles in every direction to draw 犠牲者s into his maw. He indulged in dozens of 企業s, both 率直に and 内密に, but all with the 目的（とする） of making as much cash as possible. That many of these 計画／陰謀s led to much 悲惨, that is, the 悲惨 of other people, he never stopped to 問い合わせ. And even if he had done so he would have taken no 公式文書，認める of the answer. The race was to the swift and the 戦う／戦い to the strong, in Mr. Tait’s humble opinion, and those who failed either in fighting or running had to make the best of their 苦境.
In 外見 Michael Tait was a squat, burly, sturdy man, with sandy hair and whiskers, and a pair of 冷淡な blue 注目する，もくろむs devoid of all sympathy. He dressed expensively, wore a profusion of jewellery, and was rarely without an excellent cigar sticking out of his mouth. For the sake of 誘惑するing his 犠牲者s he cultivated a jolly, 解放する／自由な and 平易な manner, and 展示（する）d an 外部の good nature which deceived many. To 引用する Tennyson’s cutting line, he “snake-like わずかな／ほっそりしたd his 犠牲者 e’er he gorged,” and 行為／法令／行動するd the Pharisee by 大部分は advertising his charities. He was looked upon 一般に as a good fellow, rough, but really 肉親，親類d-hearted, and 所有するd of a true Christian spirit. As a 事柄 of fact, Mr. Tait knew very little of Christ and His teaching, and would not have subscribed to it, save by word of mouth, had he been aware of its spirit. But he passed as a good man, because he went to church and talked 大部分は of helping the poor.
This 支え（る） of British 商業, as he was wrongly 述べるd by a too ardent reporter, 所有するd a regal country house at Henley, where he entertained 大部分は. Also he had 議会s in town, but these he only used on rare occasions when 商売／仕事 or 楽しみ 妨げるd him 捜し出すing his true home. Mrs. Tait had mercifully passed away many years 以前, under the delusion that Michael was a good man, and the Henley mansion was managed by Maud Ellis, who was the stockbroker’s niece.
行方不明になる Ellis was a young lady of five-and-twenty, certainly not bad-looking, although she could not be 述べるd as beautiful. Like her respectable uncle, she was of the sandy type, but, unlike him, she 所有するd a tall, 十分な 人物／姿／数字, finely-形態／調整d. As she always dressed in exquisite taste, and had a personality of the 半分-hypnotic 肉親，親類d, she was regarded as a 望ましい woman. The fact that she was her uncle’s heiress also may have had something to do with this opinion. Maud was 極端に cunning, and as selfish in her way as Michael was in his. He sought money, she 賞賛, and they did very 井戸／弁護士席 in their 成果／努力s to attract both. And it was this clever young woman who had chosen to 落ちる in love with George Walker.
Of course she knew that he was a bad match, that he did not love her, and that as his wife she would 持つ／拘留する no very exalted position. But the fact was that the girl, after playing with さまざまな suitors, like the princess of a fairy tale, with no serious 意向s, had been snared herself. Whether it was Walker’s good looks, or his 肉親，親類d heart, or his charm of manner, it is impossible to say; perhaps one of the three, perhaps the three together: but 行方不明になる Ellis assuredly was violently in love with the young man. Having arrived at the 結論 that life would be 哀れな without him, she 始める，決める to work to make him 提案する, thinking that she would have small difficulty.
To her surprise, however, George 証明するd to be やめる impervious to her sparkling conversation and clever 陳列する，発揮する of her somewhat 限られた／立憲的な charms. He was polite to her and nothing more, although she made her uncle ask him again and again to the palace at Henley. This 行為／行う piqued 行方不明になる Ellis, but did not altogether displease her, as it gave her an 適切な時期 of 演習ing her talent for intrigue.
From a mere fancy, her passion 深くするd to ardent love, and she swore mentally that by hook or by crook she would 軍隊 the young fellow to make her Mrs. Walker. Rarely a week passed without George 存在 asked to Henley, and Maud did her best to subjugate him. But George 存在 in love with Lesbia had a very strong 保護物，者 to …に反対する to her love darts, and managed to 避ける the amorous 落し穴s she spread for him. For six months the chase of this unwilling 犠牲者 had been going on, and as the quarry always dodged just as the huntress was on the 瀬戸際 of 逮捕（する）, this middle-class Diana 結論するd that there was another woman in the 事例／患者. With a 見解（をとる） to learning the truth, she watched and made stealthy 調査s, so that she speedily learned of George’s infatuation—so she called it—for Lesbia Hale. To detach him from Lesbia became the 反対する of her life, and it was she who 示唆するd to Mr. Hale that Lesbia might profitably marry Captain Alfred Sargent.
As Hale 認可するd of Maud’s cleverness, and was frequently indebted to her for getting what he 手配中の，お尋ね者 from Tait, he did his best to 落ちる in with her 計画（する）s, the more so, as he did not care whom his daughter married, 供給するd it was to his 利益／興味.
Maud 約束d, if the marriage was brought about, to 利益／興味 her uncle in a wild-cat 計画／陰謀 of Hale’s contrivance. So the loving father did his best—as has been seen—to 軍隊 his child into the 武器 of a man she loathed. George knew nothing of all this intrigue, and kept away from the Henley mansion as much as he could without 率直に 感情を害する／違反するing his 雇用者. But when he heard from Tim that Captain Sargent was to be a member of the Saturday to Monday house-party, he 決定するd to 受託する this 最新の 招待. An interview with Sargent might （疑いを）晴らす the 空気／公表する of all these mysteries, and George—hating the ex-captain—was not averse from breaking his 長，率いる as Tim had advised, if there was no other way of 解放（する）ing Lesbia. Also George fancied that Mr. Hale—a たびたび（訪れる） 訪問者—might be enjoying Mr. Tait’s 歓待, in which 事例／患者 he could speak to him and remonstrate about this tyranny to which Lesbia was 支配するd.
When George arrived in time for afternoon tea on Saturday, he 設立する that his own hopes and those of Tim were realised—that is, both Walter Hale and Captain Sargent were 現在の. Hale looked as lean and grim and smart as ever, while 迎える／歓迎するing the 紅潮／摘発するd young man with the 空気／公表する of a perfect stranger. Maud, who 統括するd at a dainty tea-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, saw that 紅潮／摘発する, and from the juxtaposition of Hale guessed its 推論する／理由. She was therefore 非，不，無 too pleased, but 隠すing her annoyance with a 甘い smile, she called the new arrival over to her 味方する, and 注ぐd him out a cup of tea.
“You are やめる a stranger, Mr. Walker,” she said graciously, devouring him with her 冷淡な, grey 注目する，もくろむs, which only lighted up when they 残り／休憩（する）d on his 直面する.
“I was here three weeks ago,” said George politely, and 受託するing cake. “It would rather bore Mr. Tait if I （機の）カム here oftener.”
“It would never bore me,” breathed 行方不明になる Ellis, “and my uncle is always very glad to see you. He looks upon you almost as his son.”
George 紅潮／摘発するd again and looked ぎこちない. “It is very 肉親，親類d of Mr. Tait,” he 発言／述べるd coldly, “seeing that I am only a clerk in his office.”
“Uncle was only a clerk once,” said Maud, smiling. “And look what he is now, Mr. Walker. Some day you will be like him.”
“I don’t think so,” said George, looking across to the stout, ungraceful form of the successful stockbroker, who was 存在 waited upon 手渡す and foot by two society ladies of the smart 始める，決める, anxious to 安全な・保証する tips.
Maud took his 発言／述べる in its wrong sense. “Oh, you must hope,” she 宣言するd playfully. “With 影響（力）,” she spoke meaningly, “you will do much.”
“I have no 影響（力）,” returned the young man coldly.
“That is your own fault,” retorted 行方不明になる Ellis. “The tide of fortune is flowing past your door, and you will not 開始する，打ち上げる your boat.”
“I am waiting for a 乗客,” said Walker, thinking of Lesbia.
Jealous and cunning as she was, Maud was やめる taken in for the moment, and smiled graciously. She fancied that he referred to her. “You need not wait long,” she hinted.
George 設立する the 状況／情勢 intolerable, and on the 刺激（する） of the moment, although it was neither the time nor the place to be confidential, he spoke out. There should be no その上の 誤解s if he could help it. “My waiting depends upon Mr. Hale,” he said bluntly.
Maud bit her thin lip, and leaned 支援する, with an 人工的な laugh. Inwardly she was furious, as she now knew that his 発言／述べる had referred to “that girl,” as she contemptuously called Lesbia. But she was too much the woman of the world to 明らかにする／漏らす her feelings and, moreover, utilised his 観察 to learn as much of the truth as possible.
“Ah,” she said archly, “a little bird told me that Mr. Hale has a beautiful daughter. But I understood that she was engaged to Captain Sargent.”
“She is engaged to me,” flashed out George, やめる forgetting that he was speaking to a jealous woman.
“Ah!” said 行方不明になる Ellis again, controlling her countenance with difficulty; “the course of true love is not running 滑らかに. Poor Mr. Walker, I must help you to 伸び（る） your wife.”
“You!” blurted out George like a fool.
Maud sat up and 築くd her crest like a snake. “Yes, I,” she said haughtily, anxious only for the moment to save her womanly pride. “Why should I not help a friend? I look on you almost as a brother.”
Still like a fool, George believed her, and indeed her indignant manner would have deceived a much cleverer man. He was very young and very green, and in Maud’s designing 手渡すs could be moulded like wax.
She could have struck him in the 直面する for the 侮辱 he had 申し込む／申し出d her, but hiding her 激怒（する） under a friendly smile, she laid her 計画（する）s to entrap him beyond hope of escape. “I shall get Mr. Hale to bring his daughter here,” she said 静かに, “and then you can talk to her at your leisure.”
“Oh, how good you are,” cried George delightedly. “I am sure you will love Lesbia: she is so beautiful and charming—as you are,” he 追加するd with an afterthought.
Again the impulse （機の）カム to Maud to strike him, and again her worldly training （機の）カム to her 援助（する）. “Hush!” she said softly, “you will make Captain Sargent jealous. I believe he overheard.”
“I don’t care if he did,” said Walker defiantly.
“Then I do,” retorted 行方不明になる Ellis, who could not resist 支払う／賃金ing him out a trifle, much as she loved him. “I don’t want you to quarrel here. Now go and talk to Captain Sargent while I receive these new people.”
Several ladies and two gentlemen entered at the moment, and she went 今後 to 迎える／歓迎する them, followed by her uncle. George left the 議長，司会を務める he had 占領するd 近づく the tea-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and strolled across the room—not to Sargent, but to interview Mr. Hale.
That gentleman saw him coming, and moved away from the person to whom he was speaking, ーするために find a secluded corner. He saw that his would-be son-in-法律 was coming to converse with him, and guessing the 支配する of his conversation, wished to settle the 事柄 without スキャンダル. George, as he surmised, was too frank to be 外交の, and if within the 審理，公聴会 of others, might say too much. But he need not have been afraid. George, having been schooled in social usages, by his mother, was perfectly 有能な of 事実上の／代理 as a 井戸／弁護士席-bred man.
“I have called twice or thrice to see Lesbia,” said George, 沈むing his 発言する／表明する to a judicious whisper, “but I have not been successful.”
“That is as it should be,” 再結合させるd Mr. Hale coldly. “I do not wish her to see you, and I have taken steps to 妨げる her from seeing you.”
It was on the point of George’s tongue to say that he knew what 警戒s had been taken, but to speak 率直に would lead to the betrayal of Tim, which was not to be thought of. However, he was as blunt as he dared to be. “It is tyranny to keep a young girl shut up,” he snapped 怒って.
“You are the 原因（となる） of her seclusion,” retorted the 年上の man, “and as her father I have a 権利 to 行為／法令／行動する as I please.”
“There are 法律 and order in this country,” said Walker heatedly, and would have continued to speak with vehemence, but that Hale 妨げるd him.
“You are 権利, and I take advantage of such 法律 and order to 妨げる my daughter from marrying a man I disapprove of.”
“Why do you 反対する to me?”
“We discussed that before and I gave you my answer. Also, if you will remember, I gave you a chance of having things your own way. It is my 願望（する） that Lesbia should marry my friend Sargent, but if you will 回復する that lost cross for me, I will 許す her marriage with you.”
“I can’t find the cross,” growled George sullenly.
“Then you can’t marry Lesbia,” replied Hale, very distinctly, “and as you are 軍隊ing me to curtail Lesbia’s liberty by haunting the house, I must ask you, in her 利益／興味s if not in 地雷, to discontinue your 迫害.”
George looked at the 冷淡な grim 直面する before him, very straightly. “I love Lesbia, and I ーするつもりである to marry Lesbia,” he said 静かに. “Therefore I shall do all in my 力／強力にする to see Lesbia. As to Captain Sargent—”
“Hullo!” 発言／述べるd that gentleman, who was strolling—perhaps purposely—within ear-発射. “What about Captain Sargent?”
He was a わずかな／ほっそりした, thin, delicate-looking man of the mutton-dressed-as-lamb type, that is, he did not look his age, and 影響する／感情d a pronouncedly juvenile fashion, a trifle over-done. His collars were too high, his 関係 were too brilliant, and his 着せる／賦与するs were 積極性 new. To look at his array he might have just left an army-crammer’s, and had 明らかに stopped short at “the young 中尉／大尉／警部補” 時代, which is the 時代 of the male peacock. As to his looks, these were of the colourless faded type; his 直面する was pale, his 注目する，もくろむs were pale, and his hair—what there was of it—was also pale. In fact, Sargent looked like a sheet of paper 用意が出来ている for sketching, and could have painted upon the background of himself any character he wished to 代表する, 供給するd it was not a strong one. The contrast between his washed out personality and young Walker’s vivid virility was most 示すd.
“What about Captain Sargent?” repeated this 製品 of civilisation, a trifle more 積極性 since George hesitated to speak. “Finish what you have to say, Mr. Walker.”
“Certainly,” replied the younger man coolly. “I am the more willing, as Mr. Hale is 現在の. In a word, Captain Sargent, I love 行方不明になる Lesbia Hale, and I ーするつもりである to marry her. You wish to make her your wife, and I do not ーするつもりである to let you have your way.”
“All that in a word,” sneered the captain, with a disagreeable look in his pale grey 注目する，もくろむs.
“Yes. In a word to the wise.”
“And suppose I am not wise?”
“It 事柄s very little to me if you are wise or not,” retorted George, who was not to be put 負かす／撃墜する by sneers. “Lesbia is to marry me, so that is all about it.”
Sargent ちらりと見ることd at Mr. Hale, who was やめる unruffled. “I 推定する her father’s wish counts for something?”
“Not when it 衝突s with her happiness.”
“What do you say, Hale?”
“I have said all that I ーするつもりである to say. Walker knows my 見解（をとる）s.”
“He does,” broke in George, “and he does not subscribe to them. I give you 警告 that I ーするつもりである to marry Lesbia. As to you, sir,” he turned so ひどく on Sargent that the man gave 支援する a step. “If you make Lesbia unhappy, or bother her in any way, I shall make myself very unpleasant.”
“Dear me!” sneered the captain in feigned alarm. “What a terrible Turk!”
George 星／主役にするd coldly at his 競争相手, and deliberately turned on his heel without speaking その上の. He had 宣言するd open war, and he was pleased that he had done so. Now—with a （疑いを）晴らす 良心—he could haunt the Marlow cottage and see Lesbia and 支持を得ようと努める Lesbia and carry off Lesbia, without feeling that he was 事実上の／代理 さもなければ than as a gentleman and an ardent lover. “Damn the fellow!” breathed Sargent, who had reddened under Walker’s contemptuous gaze. “What’s to be done, Hale?”
“Nothing,” 再結合させるd that gentleman 厳しく. “If you find that cross, you can marry Lesbia; if Walker finds it, he can make her his wife.”
It was a pity that George did not overhear this speech. He would have been 利益／興味d to hear that Sargent also was 捜し出すing for the mysterious ornament to which Hale appeared to attach such value. The captain looked at his friend curiously. “Why do you want this cross so much?” he asked.
“That’s my 商売／仕事. What you have to do is to find it;” and in his turn Mr. Hale went away, leaving Sargent caressing his moustache in some perplexity.
Presently, everyone went to dinner, which was a 祝宴 delicately cooked and splendidly served. Tait was やめる 充てるd to the 楽しみs of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and paid his chef a large salary. The food was perfect and the ワインs flowed 自由に, so that by the time the guests 修理d to the 製図／抽選-room, everyone was in the best of spirits. The house-party was a large one, as there were about twenty people 現在の, and not one of these would have been 許容できる in a Sunday school. There were ladies belonging to the smart 始める，決める, perfectly respectable from a worldly point of 見解（をとる）, but who cared for nothing save 橋（渡しをする） and dress, flirtation and 楽しみ. There were also men, some with 肩書を与えるs, and many with brains of the 思索的な money-making order.
Tait was not 完全に in society, but by 推論する／理由 of his wealth and public position as a philanthropist hovered on the fringe of it. He helped social バタフライs to make money on the 在庫／株 交流, lent sums large and small to ladies who could 前進する him in Mayfair and Belgravian circles, and was always open to consider any 計画／陰謀 which 約束d to bring in cash. Thus his house-parties were composed of a heterogeneous 集まり of people, good or bad, 肩書を与えるd and untitled, gay and 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な. But a general 空気／公表する of restlessness 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるd, and in that splendid mansion one and all appeared to dance along a golden road, which doubtless led to the 炭坑，オーケストラ席, and were 本人自身で 行為／行うd by the cunning, self-indulgent, worldly old stockbroker, who might have passed as Mammon in the flesh.
After dinner, the party 分裂（する） up into sections. Some ardent gamblers sat 負かす／撃墜する to 橋（渡しをする）; a few restless spirits went to dance, and a group gathered 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a young man at the piano who sang the 最新の comic songs.
There was plenty of シャンペン酒, together with cigars and cigarettes of the best, so the fun waxed 急速な／放蕩な and furious, and as the hours drew on to midnight everyone grew more or いっそう少なく excited. Within bounds, of course, as Maud Ellis was too clever to 許す the Henley palace to earn a 指名する for Neronian extravagance. The entertainment just paused on the 瀬戸際 of an orgy; but under Maud’s skilful 管理／経営 did not over-step the 示す.
That young lady had been watching George all the night although she did not speak to him again. に向かって twelve o’clock, she 設立する herself 近づく him, and 決起大会／結集させるd him on his pensive 空気／公表する. “Don Quixote in love,” she said in an airy manner.
Then she lowered her 発言する／表明する impressively. “会合，会う me in the picture-gallery at three o’clock,” she said, “for Lesbia’s sake.”
Had George been more of a man of the world he would have wholly 不信d Maud, and would have 拒絶する／低下するd her 招待 to 会合，会う him in the picture-gallery in the small hours of Sunday morning. It would not have been credited by a 裁判官 of human nature that one woman would make such an 任命 with the man she loved to 嘆願d the 原因（となる） of her 競争相手, or to give a helping 手渡す to bring about a marriage which was dead against the feelings of her heart. But George, in spite of his years and virile looks, was an unsophisticated man, who could not guess what was below the surface. He was a 肉親，親類d of society tender-foot, and perhaps this in some 手段 構成するd his charm in the 注目する，もくろむs of 行方不明になる Ellis, who had experience enough to fit out a dozen men and at least two women. At all events, although he wondered that her liking for him—as he 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d it—had lapsed so suddenly, yet he 決定するd to keep the 任命 and to listen to any 計画／陰謀 which she might 提案する, likely to 遂行する the marriage with Lesbia. In this way are strong men 新たな展開d to feminine 目的s by women, and from Samson downwards no man has been 十分に cunning to get the better of his Delilah. There was therefore some excuse for George.
His attention was drawn from his own thoughts by a lively discussion going on between Mr. Tait and three or four ladies, with a ぱらぱら雨ing of men. As it was now long after midnight some people had retired to bed, and others were 準備するing to follow. But Tait was a night bird who liked to stay up as long as possible—probably because, as a robber of 未亡人s and 孤児s, his pillow must have had its thorns. To entertain those guests who remained wakeful, and 特に the feminine 部分 thereof, he について言及するd that he had lately come into 所有／入手 of some wonderful jewels which a famous, or rather 悪名高い, demi-mondaine of Paris had sold. Of course, the ladies were more than anxious to see these gems, both on account of their beauty and value and because of the celebrity of their former owner. They one and all clamoured for a sight of them, and as Mr. Tait had purposely 刺激するd their curiosity to keep them from retiring, he was not unwilling to gratify their wish. He therefore led the way to the picture-gallery, and pointed out a small 狭くする door at the end of it.
“There is my 安全な,” he said proudly, “or rather my strong-room.”
“Queer place for a 安全な,” drawled Sargent, with a shrug.
“And for that 推論する／理由 the safer. We are all friends here,” Tait ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する graciously, and looked more like a Silenus than ever, “so I do not mind 明らかにする／漏らすing the どの辺に of twenty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs’ 価値（がある） of jewels. But no どろぼう would dream that my 安全な was here. And even if he did,” 追加するd the stockbroker, 製図／抽選 out his watch-chain, “the 安全な cannot be opened save by this 重要な.”
“But it might be broken open,” George 投機・賭けるd to 発言／述べる.
Tait laughed in a jolly manner. “It would take the cleverest どろぼう in London to break into my 安全な, and there are only two 重要なs to open it. I have one on my watch-chain, and Maud, my niece, has the other.”
The guests looked at one another. Had not Tait been 紅潮／摘発するd with ワイン and excitement he would not have been thus 解放する／自由な in his speech, and he was not a man who talked 捕まらないで as a 支配する. But the lateness of the hour, the presence of many people, the lights, the music, the 賭事ing, the ワイン, and the chatter had unloosened his usually 用心深い tongue. Maud frowned when her uncle spoke so rashly, as she thought that he was a fool to do so. Certainly there was no one 現在の who would have broken open the 安全な, since everyone was respectable, even if—as the word goes—rackety! All the same the 発覚 of the どの辺に of the 安全な and the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） so guilelessly 供給（する）d was risky, to say the least of it. 行方不明になる Ellis shook her 長，率いる at her venturesome uncle.
“Don’t say too much,” she 発言／述べるd in a low 発言する／表明する, “even this 安全な may not be strong enough to withstand a 夜盗，押し込み強盗 of the new school.”
“井戸／弁護士席, I don’t care,” cried the stockbroker recklessly, 挿入するing his 重要な into the lock, “my jewels are insured. Come, ladies, you can all feast your 注目する，もくろむs, and—as I have bought the gems to sell them again—I am open to an 申し込む／申し出.”
He said this jokingly, yet meant to sell if he could. Some of the guests drew 支援する rather annoyed, as they thought that Mr. Tait was going too far in 輸入するing City manners into his house-party. Maud, ever watchful, again whispered to her uncle, but he shook her off, and entered the strong-room—now open—to bring out the jewels. When the box which 含む／封じ込めるd them was placed on a 近づく （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and the contents were 陳列する，発揮するd, all thought of Tait’s bad manners disappeared in amazement and delight at the sight of the precious 石／投石するs.
These were truly beautiful. Many were 始める，決める in tiaras, bracelets, （犯罪の）一味s, chains, lockets and in さまざまな ornaments for the hair and corsage. But other 石／投石するs lay loose and glittering, to be arranged and used as 要求するd. There were diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and many inferior gems, the whole forming a dazzling heap, which made every mouth water with avarice. But for Tait’s 見積（る）, those 現在の—and some were good 裁判官s of jewels—would have みなすd the radiant pile 価値（がある） twice the 量 について言及するd.
“Try them on, ladies,” said the genial stockbroker. “Try them on. We are all friends here!” and he placed a tiara on the 長，率いる of his niece, who stood 近づく with a frown on her 直面する. She began to think that her uncle was crazy to 陳列する，発揮する his wealth in this 無謀な manner.
In a few moments some of the 女性（の） guests were glittering with jewels, and 調査するing themselves delightedly in 手渡す-mirrors which had been brought by Tait’s order. The stockbroker himself, with a 冷笑的な smile, looked at their avaricious 直面するs, and listened with sneering 楽しみ to the delighted little 叫び声をあげるs which they gave at intervals.
Jewels have a much greater 影響 on women than on men, and there was not a woman 現在の but would have gone 広大な／多数の／重要な lengths for the sake of 所有するing even one of the ornaments. Gretchen was not the only woman who could be 誘惑するd by the glitter of gems, which is so much superior to the mere gleam of gold. And Tait, まっただ中に this splendour, looked more like Mammon than ever.
But this 早期に-hours-of-the-morning 楽しみ （機の）カム to an end in fifteen minutes, and the ladies, taking off the jewels, 回復するd them to their owner. Tait was really glad to get them 支援する, and counted them carefully, for the look in the 注目する，もくろむs of some of the ladies 現実に 脅すd him, and he half thought that they would run away with the treasures. However, he made sure that every one of the ornaments had been given 支援する, and 取って代わるd them in the box, which he deposited in the 安全な. After that, the guests went to bed, and the gallery, with the strong-room carefully locked, was left in silence and 不明瞭. But the sleep of many was 乱すd by the thought of that Nibelung’s treasure, so 近づく at 手渡す, and yet so impossible to 得る.
George was indifferent to the gems, as he thought that Lesbia’s 注目する，もくろむs were brighter and much more beautiful. He left the gallery while Tait was 陳列する，発揮するing his hoard, and retired to the very comfortable bedroom which Maud’s care had 供給するd. As a mere clerk he should not have had such luxurious surroundings, or, indeed, have been in the splendid house at all; but she loved him, and could not do enough for him. Therefore, George was housed like a king, and, after the manner of 青年, took his 慰安s easily. It never occurred to him that in his humble position he had no 権利 to be pampered and petted. By 権利 of good looks and delightful manners, he had hitherto gone through the world very much spoiled by the fair sex. He therefore took everything as his 権利.
While waiting for three to strike from the stable clock—it was now two—he seated himself before the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 and, lighting a 麻薬を吸う, gave himself up to dreams of Lesbia. In one way or another he was 決定するd to make her his wife, but it was difficult to see how he 提案するd to keep her on his small salary, 特に when much of that same salary was 要求するd to support his mother.
But that George indulged in the rosy dreams of 青年 and had such a 深遠な belief in the 親切 of fortune, he would have 解任するd his 提案するd marriage as an impossibility. Hale was against it, and so was Sargent: his mother did not 認可する of the marriage, and there was Maud Ellis to be considered. A more 希望に満ちた man may 井戸／弁護士席 have been despondent: but not George. He felt sure that everything would come 権利, and that life was a fairy-tale in which the 運命／宿命d prince—who was himself—carried off the lovely princess—who, of course, was Lesbia. And she was in an enchanted 城—so he glorified Rose Cottage—watched by two dragons, Canning and Mrs. Petty—but helped also by a faithful dwarf, by 指名する Tim Burke. Finally, there was Mr. Hale as the wicked magician to be reckoned with, and perhaps Maud might 行為／法令／行動する as the malignant fairy; but somehow the marriage would be brought about, and in some way 十分な money would be 供給するd, so that the prince and princess could live happily ever afterwards.
Lesbia would not have thought in this comfortable fashion in the 直面する of such 障害s as 閉めだした the way to the altar: but then she was much more practical than her lover, in spite of the fact that she dwelt in seclusion, while he 戦う／戦いd in the work-a-day world.
And then, as George 情愛深く imagined he had discovered a few hours 以前, Maud Ellis was not the wicked fairy after all. Rather was she about to play the agreeable part of the fairy-godmother, and bring together two lovers parted by 逆の circumstances.
When Maud afterwards thought of the 信用 George placed in her she wondered at his folly, and had a contempt for his upright character that could 見積（る） human nature so 高度に. But George never 疑問d for one moment but that the 任命 was made in all good 約束 and for the 表明する 目的 of helping his 控訴 with Lesbia. He therefore waited impatiently for the striking of the clock. Only once did it cross his mind as 半端物 that Maud should choose that hour and that 会合-place to 今後 his 利益／興味s, since she could easily have spoken to him in a convenient place and at a becoming hour in the morning. But he 小衝突d this thought aside as unworthy of her 肉親，親類d heart, and when the hour of three chimed out, he opened his door softly and slipped out to keep his 任命.
George had stayed so frequently at the Henley mansion that he knew his way to the picture-gallery exceedingly 井戸／弁護士席. Also, it was Mr. Tait’s hobby to have the 回廊（地帯）s and many of the rooms lighted in a subdued manner all night. It 妨げるd 押し込み強盗, he 宣言するd, and certainly the sight of an illuminated house would daunt those who prefer to work in 不明瞭 or only by the light of a bull’s-注目する，もくろむ.
George, therefore, 設立する himself in a soft glow when he 現れるd from the bedroom and stole on tip-toe に向かって the 長，率いる of the stairs. Here he descended and took his way に向かって the 支援する of the house to the picture-gallery. This 部分 of the 広大な／多数の／重要な mansion was not lighted, which seemed 半端物, remembering what Mr. Tait said about light 脅すing 夜盗，押し込み強盗s, and seeing also that the 安全な was placed here. But whatever was the stockbroker’s whim, George 設立する the long gallery in 不明瞭, and as he had entered by a door placed 直接／まっすぐに in the middle of it, he 停止（させる）d there doubtfully. He could see no light, save what filtered through the sky-lights, and did not know where Maud waited for him. At the far end of the gallery were 二塁打 glass doors, 主要な 負かす／撃墜する steps into the gardens. These were usually shuttered at night, but George 公式文書，認めるd with some surprise by the gleam of starlight which （機の）カム through them that on this special night the shutters had not been put up. This was strange, considering the 価値のあるs which were 隠すd in the 安全な; but then, as the young man 反映するd, it was also strange that Tait should place his treasure-house at the other end of the gimcrack gallery, which could be so easily broken into. But, after all, on the 当局 of Poe’s tale of the Purloined Letter, the more ありそうもない a place in which 価値のあるs are hidden the safer they are. Not one of the London fraternity of thieves would believe that the 用心深い stockbroker would be so foolish as to place his 安全な or strong-room, or treasure-house, or whatever he liked to call it, in such a locality. Therefore, no creature of the night would come to 略奪する. There was かなりの method in Tait’s 明らかな madness after all.
But George had scanty time for such reflections, as the hours were 速く moving に向かって 夜明け, and he yet had to converse with Maud. His 注目する，もくろむs grew more accustomed to the 半分-不明瞭 of the gallery, and he ちらりと見ることd up and 負かす／撃墜する to see if he could 遠くに見つける the darker form of the girl.
At this moment he heard the clink of metal upon metal. The sound （機の）カム from the direction of the strong-room, and, as he turned his gaze thereto, he suddenly saw a vivid stream of light, 訴訟／進行 明らかに from a bull’s-注目する，もくろむ. In a flash it struck him that the strong-room was 存在 burgled, and almost without thinking he uttered a loud cry and sprang 今後 to lay 手渡すs on the thieves.
The light disappeared as he raced up, and when within measurable distance of the 安全な he つまずくd over a 団体／死体, motionless on the 床に打ち倒す. It was that of a woman, as Walker could tell by the draperies he mechanically clutched in his 落ちる. Before he could 選ぶ himself up, two dark forms dashed past him に向かって the glass doors. George, anxious only to lay 手渡すs on the thieves, ran 負かす／撃墜する the gallery at their heels and left the woman where she was. The 侵入者s easily opened the 二塁打 doors, which evidently had been left ajar.
George followed, and saw two men race across the lawn and into the belt of trees which girdled Mr. Tait’s mansion. As he 増加するd his 速度(を上げる） he shouted loudly for 援助.
By and by, lights were seen moving in the upper windows of the 広大な／多数の／重要な house, and into the 回廊（地帯）s 注ぐd many guests and servants, all in さまざまな 行う／開催する／段階s of undress, and all 脅すd by the midnight alarm. Tait, with a dressing-gown thrown あわてて over his burly form, 押し進めるd his way through the throng 負かす／撃墜する the stairs, and the guests streamed after him. Everyone knew what was the 事柄, for a wakeful servant had heard the shout of “Thieves!” and the ominous word had あわてて passed from lip to lip.
“I 推定する／予想する my jewels are gone!” panted Tait, waddling に向かって the gallery at the 長，率いる of a picturesque 暴徒.
In a second the electric lights were turned on and the gallery 炎d with light. Tait uttered a cry of alarm, which was echoed by those behind him, and there was 原因（となる） for surprise. The door of the strong-room stood wide open, and some distance away lay the insensible 団体／死体 of Maud Ellis, dressed in the attire she had worn during the previous evening. While some of the ladies …に出席するd to the girl, Tait with surprising agility 急落（する），激減（する）d into the strong-room, and then they heard him bellow bull-like in mingled 激怒（する） and astonishment. A moment later he 現れるd.
“The jewels are gone! the jewels are gone!” he shouted, purple with wrath. “Here, some of you, go to Henley for the police; search the grounds, 診察する the house, and—”
“The doors are open, sir,” cried a footman.
“The thieves must have escaped. After them! after them!” bellowed Tait, in a frenzy of 激怒（する）.
“Your niece, man, your niece,” said a gentleman who was supporting the unconscious 行方不明になる Ellis; but Tait only swore the more.
“Confound my niece. I have lost twenty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs’ 価値（がある） of jewels.”
Several people looked disgusted at this callousness. A young doctor, who was stopping in the house, and who was feeling Maud’s pulse, looked up. “行方不明になる Ellis has been chloroformed,” he 発言／述べるd 静かに.
Tait bent 負かす／撃墜する and lightly touched the gold chain which was 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the girl’s neck. “The 重要な of the strong-room is gone,” he cried furiously.
“No 疑問,” explained the 医療の man. “行方不明になる Ellis has been （判決などを）下すd insensible and then was robbed of the 重要な. But who—”
“How did Maud come to be here at this hour?” 需要・要求するd Tait savagely. “Go for the police, some of you,” he shouted, stamping furiously. “I’m not going to lose a fortune in this way.”
“It’s useless; the thieves have escaped,” cried a 発言する／表明する at the end of the gallery, and George bounded in at the open door.
“Walker,” cried the stockbroker, recoiling. “What are you doing here? What do you know about this?”
“I （機の）カム downstairs and heard the thieves at work,” explained George quickly. “I tried to lay 手渡すs on them, but 宙返り／暴落するd over the 団体／死体 of a woman on the 床に打ち倒す, and—”
“It is 行方不明になる Ellis,” said the young doctor, looking up. “Do you know how she （機の）カム to be here?”
George hesitated. He could not—for the sake of Maud’s 評判—say that she had 任命するd a 会合 with him, and did not know how to explain.
Tait 公式文書，認めるd his momentary hesitation, and turned on him furiously. “How do you come to be here?” he 需要・要求するd. “What makes you wander about my house when everyone is in bed?”
“Ah,” said Mr. Hale, 押し進めるing his way through the 脅すd （人が）群がる, “that is very 怪しげな. Speak out, Walker!”
“I heard a noise and （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する,” cried George, making the first excuse which entered his 長，率いる.
“No one else heard a noise,” 発言／述べるd Sargent, who was at Tait’s 肘.
“I was wakeful,” retorted Walker はっきりと; but on every 手渡す he saw incredulous looks, and realised with a 冷気／寒がらせる that he was 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd.
Tait grunted, and looked at the young man with a lowering brow. “Who are the thieves?” he 需要・要求するd. “How many of them are there?”
“I saw two men, but could not catch a glimpse of their 直面するs. I think they were masked,” said George readily, and again saw 不信 written on the 直面するs around him. “But may I 示唆する, Mr. Tait, that you send for the police at once. The thieves made for the 支持を得ようと努めるd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the house and may escape.”
“I daresay they have escaped,” grunted Tait, savagely. “The servants are searching the gardens. 一方／合間 let us 生き返らせる Maud, and hear what she has to say.”
“She is coming 一連の会議、交渉／完成する now,” said the doctor, and even as he spoke, Maud opened her 注目する，もくろむs in a vague, unseeing way.
“Carry her up to bed,” said Tait 厳しく. “I’ll have an 調査 made into this as soon as 夜明け comes and the police arrive. 一方／合間 you can all retire. Mr. Walker, remain here and explain.”
“I have explained,” said George proudly. “I have nothing more to 追加する.”
Tait shook his 長，率いる doubtfully, and whispers went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, which 示すd 疑惑 of the truth of Walker’s explanation. By this time Maud, more or いっそう少なく sensible, was on her feet. Her 注目する，もくろむs wandered here and there until they alighted on the young man.
“You!” cried 行方不明になる Ellis, with a loud wail. “Oh, George, you!”
There was very little sleep for anyone during the remaining hours of 不明瞭, and after breakfast—an 異常に dismal meal—the guests one and all showed a 願望（する） to get away from their host.
Mr. Tait certainly was not amiable, since he had 苦しむd so 広大な／多数の／重要な a loss, and growled like a 耐える with a sore 長，率いる. Not 存在 a gentleman, he could not 支配（する）／統制する his temper, and made himself so 率直に disagreeable, that everyone 手配中の，お尋ね者 to leave forthwith. But until the police had made 調査s, it was impossible for either man or woman to 出発／死 without becoming 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd.
Throughout that wretched Sunday, the men were 哀れな and the ladies hysterical. Tait, no longer the jolly Silenus, or even the gracious Mammon, moved amongst his friends with looks of 疑惑 for all.
The police duly arrived, and searched the gardens and the house, but in no way could they trace the thieves. George stuck 断固としてやる to his story, which, of course, was true, save for the excuse which he gave for coming 負かす／撃墜する the stairs. And it was this 誤った 部分—this weak subterfuge—which made Mr. Tait 怪しげな. He knew that George was hard up, and said as much to him in a 静かな corner.
“What has my 存在 a pauper to do with your loss?” 需要・要求するd Walker, 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing up on the instant.
Tait shook his 弾丸 長，率いる and scowled with his little pig 注目する，もくろむs. “My jewels are 価値（がある） twenty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs,” he retorted.
“I don’t care if they are 価値（がある） twenty millions,” said George, turning pale, for he realised his 雇用者’s meaning. “I know nothing about them.”
“You were in the gallery when—”
“I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to the gallery because I heard a noise,” interrupted Walker furiously. “I told the police the story I told you. I did my best to catch the thieves, and now you have the audacity to 告発する／非難する me.”
“I don’t 正確に／まさに 告発する／非難する you—”
“It looks very like it.”
“You must 収容する／認める that your 行為／行う is 怪しげな,” 抗議するd the stockbroker.
“I 収容する／認める nothing of the sort.”
“People don’t wander about a house after everyone is in bed, without a 推論する／理由,” snapped Tait, with a searching ちらりと見ること.
George bore the scrutiny without flinching. “I have explained how I （機の）カム to be wandering about,” he 宣言するd proudly. “I was sitting by my 解雇する／砲火／射撃, and on 審理，公聴会 a 怪しげな noise I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する, with what result you know. How dare you 告発する／非難する me?”
“I tell you again that I don’t 告発する／非難する you,” vociferated Tait crossly. “But you have 行為／法令／行動するd foolishly to say the least of it.”
“How else could I have 行為／法令／行動するd?”
“On 審理，公聴会 the noise you should have 誘発するd me.”
“Had I done so I should not have been in time to see the thieves.”
“What good did you do by seeing them, since they have escaped? That is,” 追加するd Tait slowly, “if there were two men. Stop!” he threw up his fat 手渡す as the young man was about to speak 怒って; “it is no use going 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the bush. You may be innocent or you may not be. Your story may be true or it may be the 逆転する.”
“Mr. Tait”—George held his temper under by mere 軍隊 of will—“why should I 略奪する you?”
The stockbroker opened his pig’s 注目する，もくろむs. “Why!” he 需要・要求するd in amazement, “do I not know that you are 猛烈に poor? Didn’t Hale tell me only the other day that you 手配中の，お尋ね者 to marry his daughter, and could not do so for want of money? Oh, there are plenty of 推論する／理由s why you should take twenty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs’ 価値（がある） of jewels. They can be unset and sold, in which 事例／患者 they will be difficult to trace. Had they been bank-公式文書，認めるs, I don’t believe that this 押し込み強盗—いわゆる—would have taken place.”
George curled his lip. “You put things very 明確に, sir,” he said 静かに, “and on the 直面する of it, I 収容する／認める that my 行為／行う looks a trifle 怪しげな.”
“A trifle!” cried Tait scornfully. “Very good indeed. A trifle! Why not 収容する／認める that you （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to steal the jewels, and went out to bury them in some 安全な place, returning, when the alarm was given, to tell us this cock-and-bull story of two thieves?”
George winced and grew white at this very plain speaking. But he kept his temper, for to have lost it at the moment would have been dangerous. He saw very 井戸／弁護士席 that he was in a tight place.
“I ask you only one question, Mr. Tait,” he said calmly. “Who gave the alarm?”
“I do not know,” said the stockbroker sullenly. “I heard a cry of thieves, and help, and blue 殺人, and （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to find everyone else 誘発するd.”
“Then I may tell you that I gave the alarm, sir.”
“You say so,” sneered the other.
“I say so because it is true,” 再結合させるd Walker, throwing 支援する his 長，率いる indignantly. “I shouted in the gallery when I saw the light, and I cried out again when I followed the thieves. I lost them when they bolted into the 支持を得ようと努めるd girdling this place. Now, I ask you, sir, would I have given the alarm had I been 有罪の?”
“No—if you gave the alarm, that is. But I don’t believe you did.”
“In other words you think that I am 有罪の?”
“Upon my word, Walker, it looks very much like it.”
“Then why not 手渡す me over to the police?”
The stockbroker moved uneasily and wiped his damp, red 直面する. “Your mother is an old friend of 地雷,” he said hesitatingly; “I think of her.”
“That is very good of you,” said the ungrateful George; “but I would rather you believed in my innocence. I have no wish to hide myself behind any woman’s petticoats.”
“Not even behind Maud’s?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” said George stolidly, 決定するd to 持つ／拘留する his peace about the lady even to her uncle. “行方不明になる Ellis and I are very good friends, nothing more.”
“You know that she loves you. I should never have asked a mere clerk from my office here, but that she loved you. I disapproved of her infatuation, but I gave in to her since I am your mother’s friend.”
“You are わずかに incoherent, sir, and 完全に wrong. 行方不明になる Ellis and I are friends; nothing more. And to return to the 支配する of the 押し込み強盗, may I remind you that the police have discovered that the 安全な was not broken into, but that the door was opened with a 重要な? The 重要な, I notice, is still on your watch-chain. How then could I have opened the 安全な?”
“Perhaps you think that I stole the jewels myself?” sneered Tait coolly. “I may remind you, in my turn, that Maud also has a 重要な.”
George sprang to his feet and clenched his 手渡す. “You dare to insinuate that I got it from 行方不明になる Ellis, and—”
The door opened as he spoke, and Tait, who was 直面するing it, ちらりと見ることd over the young man’s shoulder. “Here is Maud for herself. Perhaps she will explain.”
It was indeed 行方不明になる Ellis, looking very white and pinched. Her 注目する，もくろむs were red-rimmed, her mouth was drooping, and she 自白するd to a 頭痛, which was not to be wondered at, seeing what she had gone through.
“That chloroform is horrible stuff,” complained Maud, 沈むing into a 議長，司会を務める.
“Have you seen the 視察官?” said Tait, giving his niece very little sympathy for her 病弱な looks.
“Yes; I have told him all I know.”
“Perhaps you will repeat what you have told him to your uncle, 行方不明になる Ellis,” 発言／述べるd Walker, still standing very stiff and very proudly. “He has （刑事）被告 me of getting the 重要な from you to 略奪する the strong-room, and 断言するs that I have buried the jewels somewhere in the garden.”
“That is absurd,” said Maud, looking at her uncle, while a red 位置／汚点／見つけ出す of colour 燃やすd on either pale cheek. “I don’t believe that you have anything to do with the 事柄.”
“Then what did you mean by 演説（する）／住所ing Walker as you did, when you 生き返らせるd in the gallery?” 需要・要求するd Mr. Tait はっきりと.
“I 簡単に said, ‘Oh, George, you!’“ said the girl 静かに; “and that because I felt glad he was there to help me.”
“He didn’t help you in the least,” 発言／述べるd Tait grimly.
“He would have had I asked him,” she retorted. “Would you not, Mr. Walker?”
“Certainly.”
“It’s not George this time, then,” muttered the stockbroker. “井戸／弁護士席, Maud, perhaps you will tell me what you were doing in the gallery.”
Maud’s 注目する，もくろむs sought those of the man she loved, but she replied without hesitation. “I’ll tell you what I did not tell the police, uncle. The 視察官 believes that I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する because I heard a noise.”
“Like Walker here.”
“He did not come 負かす／撃墜する for that 推論する／理由.”
Tait looked at George with 勝利 in his 注目する，もくろむ. “I thought not,” he said.
“If he said that he did, he said so to 保護物，者 me,” 追求するd 行方不明になる Ellis, and looked gratefully at the 混乱させるd young man.
“What do you mean by that, Maud?” asked Tait tartly.
“I made an 任命 with George in the picture-gallery at three in the morning, as I wished to help him to marry Lesbia Hale.”
“Why, I thought you loved Walker yourself!” cried the astonished stockbroker.
“So I did—so I do,” breathed 行方不明になる Ellis, drooping her sandy 長，率いる. “But, to my mind, love means sacrifice. George—for I have the 権利 to call him so now—George would not have been happy with me, as he loved Lesbia Hale, so I arranged to give him up to her, and to make things 権利 with her father. For that 推論する／理由 I waited for him in the gallery. There I was suddenly pounced upon, and a handkerchief soaked in chloroform was clapped over my mouth. I daresay the person who did it, stole the 重要な from the chain 一連の会議、交渉／完成する my neck, and opened the strong-room to steal the jewels. But I knew nothing from the moment I became insensible until I 生き返らせるd to find you all standing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する me. That is the story I have told the 視察官, save that I kept 静かな my 任命 with George.”
“Then you believe him to be innocent,” said the stockbroker, confounded by the frankness of this story.
Maud arose indignantly. “The man I love can never be 有罪の,” she cried.
George blushed a rosy red. He saw that he had not behaved over 井戸／弁護士席 to this 勇敢に立ち向かう girl, who had so cleverly exonerated him, although he really had no 推論する／理由 to 告発する／非難する himself of duplicity に向かって her. But in a 混乱させるd way he felt that she was heaping coals of 解雇する／砲火／射撃 on his 長，率いる, and was more drawn to her than he had ever been before. Here, indeed, was a friend 価値（がある） having. With Lesbia as his wife and Maud as his friend, life would indeed be joyous.
In his innocence it never struck the young man that no male can 運動, either in 二塁打 harness or in tandem fashion, two women who both love him. He thought that Maud, having discovered that the true meaning of love was sacrifice, behaved thus because of her newly-acquired knowledge. “Thank you, 行方不明になる Ellis,” he said 簡単に, but his looks 暗示するd 容積／容量s more.
Tait was displeased. He had no grudge against George, whom he liked 井戸／弁護士席 enough; but he did not like his 解答 of the mystery to be thus upset.
“You mean 井戸／弁護士席, Maud,” he said at length, “and you have 保護物，者d Walker very cleverly. All the same, I cannot 受託する your explanation.”
行方不明になる Ellis rose in alarm. “Uncle, do you mean that you will have Mr. Walker 逮捕（する）d when you know that he is innocent?”
“For his mother’s sake I shall not do that,” said the 年上の man; “but if Mr. Walker will give 支援する the jewels I will not 解任する him from my office.”
“I have no jewels to give,” cried George recklessly, and his 直面する 紅潮／摘発するd a 深い red. “As to remaining in your office, do you think that I would continue to serve a man who 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs me of such a wicked 罪，犯罪? I shall never return to your office, Mr. Tait, nor shall I re-enter your house until my innocence is made （疑いを）晴らす. If the police 逮捕（する） me—”
“They will not do that,” interrupted Maud quickly; “I 約束 you. There is no 証拠 against you. I don’t know who chloroformed me, but you are innocent, I 断言する. My uncle will take no steps.”
“For Mrs. Walker’s sake,” interpolated the stockbroker unctuously.
“So you can leave this house when you will,” continued Maud, “knowing—” she 掴むd his 手渡す—“that I at least, believe you guiltless.”
“Thank you!” said George, and kissed her 手渡す. “Mr. Tait, if you and the police want me you know where to find me.” And he stalked out of the room with his 長，率いる in the 空気／公表する. Maud Ellis looked after him with hungry looks, and heaved a 深い sigh when the door の近くにd.
Within the hour George had asked 許可 of the 視察官 to leave the house, and 得るd it. Whatever the guests believed, the police 明らかに—thanks to Maud’s 報告（する）／憶測—受託するd him as a wholly guiltless person. He gave his 演説（する）／住所 to the officer, so that he might be called as a 証言，証人／目撃する in the event of the thieves 存在 brought to 調書をとる／予約する, and then shook the dust of that splendid Henley mansion from his feet.
He was glad to get away, for several people looked at him askance, and evidently there was an uneasy feeling that he knew more than he would 自白する. But no one hinted 率直に that he was 関心d in the 強盗. It was 単に thought that his presence in the gallery 要求するd a more reasonable explanation than the weak one of having heard a noise. Still, George could not help feeling that he was 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd by the guests and servants, and it was gall and wormwood to the proud young man that this should be the 事例／患者.
Walker carried his portmanteau 負かす／撃墜する to the river, as he had 列／漕ぐ／騒動d up to Henley from Medmenham. It was now late in the afternoon, and with a 激しい heart he 用意が出来ている to 開始する，打ち上げる his boat and return.
The news that he had to take to his mother was unwelcome, and he wondered how she would receive the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that he had left Tait’s office. Mrs. Walker’s circumstances were very desperate, as her income was so small, and she 大いに depended upon her son’s 収入s. The 現在の 段階 of things would be worse than ever, and George winced as he 熟視する／熟考するd the coming interview.
Just as he was about to step into the boat, Mr. Hale, cigar in mouth, sauntered up and 演説（する）／住所d him. Walker was in no mood for conversation, and would have 押し進めるd off with a curt nod, but that the 年上の man uttered a 宣告，判決 which made him pause indignantly. “So Tait didn’t have you 逮捕（する）d, Walker,” said Mr. Hale cruelly.
George turned pale, and looked straight at the （衆議院の）議長. “If you were not Lesbia’s father,” he said 静かに, “I should fling you into the river for those words.”
“I やめる believe you would and could,” 再結合させるd Hale, looking admiringly at the splendid 人物／姿／数字 of the young man; “but that will not make you any the more innocent.”
“If I were 有罪の—if Mr. Tait believed me to be 有罪の, I should have been 逮捕（する）d long since,” said Walker with an 成果／努力, “the mere fact that I am permitted to leave the house shows that I am considered guiltless.”
“Tait was always absurdly good-natured,” said Hale coolly, again 危険ing a 急落（する），激減（する） into the river.
George looked at him again. “You believe that I stole those jewels?” he asked.
“Of course I do. You made a lame excuse for 存在 in the gallery at night, and evidently went out after two pretended thieves so as to hide your plunder. I didn’t believe you had it in you. See what love will do.”
“Love?”
“Yes. You are poor; you want to marry Lesbia, and so tried the short 削減（する） to wealth. Presently, when things have blown over, you will dig up the jewels and sell them to some 盗品故買者. Then you will come to me with a cock-and-bull story about a 遺産／遺物 存在 left to you—perhaps you will 相続する that fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs which is waiting for your mother’s sister. Of course, knowing the source of your 遺産／遺物 I shall say no.”
“You have said no already,” replied Walker 静かに, although he longed to knock this sneering man of the world into the water. “Don’t say any more, sir, else I may forget that you are Lesbia’s father.” And George took up his oars and 押し進めるd off into midstream.
Hale ぐずぐず残るd on the bank, still scoffing. “I shall tell Lesbia everything, Walker,” called out Mr. Hale, 明確に and slowly. “She will never marry you now, my dear 夜盗，押し込み強盗.”
The unhappy lover pulled 速く 負かす／撃墜する stream with those last words （犯罪の）一味ing in his ears. Could he indeed 信用 Lesbia to continue her 約束／交戦 in the 直面する of his 存在 （刑事）被告 of a sordid 罪，犯罪? He knew that she loved him as dearly as he loved her, and would go through 解雇する／砲火／射撃 and water to 証明する that love. All the same, there was something so mean and contemptible about stealing from a friend’s house, that even her 広大な／多数の／重要な love might not be proof against her father’s story. George clenched his teeth and pulled for dear life ーするために 支配（する）／統制する his emotion. He could do nothing in the 直面する of all that had taken place, save wait 根気よく. 信用ing in Tait’s friendship for his mother and in Maud’s 忠義, he knew that he would not be 不名誉d 率直に: but the idea that Lesbia might believe him 有罪の was 猛烈に hard to 耐える. Still, she loved him, and he 信用d in her love. That was all he could do, for a ちらりと見ること around showed him that he was helpless まっただ中に the 黒人／ボイコット circumstances which had so suddenly environed him.
Mrs. Walker heard a bald, blunt tale from George and said very little in reply. Not even when he 宣言するd that he had thrown up his 状況／情勢 did she rebuke him. On the contrary she rather 拍手喝采する.
“As my son,” said the 厳しい, 冷淡な woman, “you could do nothing else.”
“Then you do not believe that I am 有罪の?”
Mrs. Walker looked at him scornfully. “Our relations as mother and son have never been sentimental,” she said 静かに, “but you should know me better than to ask me that.”
“Thank you, mother,” said George 簡単に, for such a speech meant much from the Spartan woman, who was usually so reticent.
“I want no thanks for 存在 just,” she 発言／述べるd coldly. “What you have to do is to （疑いを）晴らす your 指名する by searching for these thieves.”
“How am I to do that?”
“I leave it to your own cleverness. 一方／合間 I shall see Mr. Jabez, and get him to 前進する us 十分な to live on until your 指名する is （疑いを）晴らすd and you have got another 状況／情勢. As to this girl, Lesbia, give her up.”
“Never! Never! Never!” said George. His mother looked at him coldly and disapprovingly, and left him in silence.
But 事柄s turned out as she wished. Within three days a tearful 公式文書，認める （機の）カム from a distraught girl to her anxious lover—a 公式文書，認める of a few words—“I believe you to be innocent but we can never marry, and we must never 会合，会う again,” said the 公式文書，認める, and it was 調印するd stiffly “Lesbia Hale.”
If the course of true love did not run 滑らかに with George, the girl he loved 設立する it スピード違反 概略で also.
Lesbia was as anxious to see her lover as he was to 会合，会う her; but parental displeasure and parental 当局 stood like a 塀で囲む between this new Pyramus and Thisbe—a 塀で囲む which could by no means be overleaped.
As Tim had 知らせるd George, his master had engaged Mrs. Petty as a housekeeper, and so the 国内の 手はず／準備 of Rose Cottage were 一時的に 除去するd from the 手渡すs of Lesbia. Also, in 合同 with The 影をつくる／尾行する, Mrs. Petty 行為／法令／行動するd both as a 秘かに調査する and a gaoler. It was 悪名高い, as Lesbia felt, that she should be watched in this fashion; but as she had no money and no friends and no place whither she could go, there was nothing left for it but to wait, until such time as Mr. Hale became more reasonable.
Mrs. Petty was a stout, plethoric woman, with an 積極的な manner and a loud, ありふれた 発言する／表明する, who probably had been a Margate 宿泊するing-house keeper of the worst description. She was a born いじめ（る）, and within ten minutes of her 入ること／参加（者） into the house Tim learned to loathe her with all the fervour of an Irishman, impatient of 抑制 in any form.
Mrs. Petty tried 類似の 策略 and 治療 on Lesbia, but was met so 堅固に, and put in her place so 静かに, that—存在 a coward at heart, as all いじめ（る）s are—she left the girl as 厳しく alone as was possible, while 遂行する／発効させるing Mr. Hale’s 指示／教授／教育s. These were to keep a strict 注目する，もくろむ on his daughter, and to 妨げる the 侵入占拠 of George Walker. Mrs. Petty, after several rebuffs, contented herself by watching from afar, and managed by always 存在 on the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す when Lesbia least 推定する／予想するd her, to fulfil her contemptible 義務. For the 残り／休憩（する） of the time she worried Tim and looked after the 国内の economy of the cottage.
The 影をつくる／尾行する, as became his 愛称, was a いっそう少なく 積極的な personage. He was really called John Canning, and 以前は had 行為／法令／行動するd as valet to Captain Sargent. But that gentleman, 存在 anxious to marry Lesbia whom he 大いに admired, and hating George as a too-handsome and over-young 競争相手, had 示唆するd to his friend Hale that Canning should 行為／法令／行動する as an inoffensive dragon to keep away the young man. Hale やめる 認可するd of this, as Canning could guard the garden, while Mrs. Petty kept watch on the girl in the house itself. Canning, therefore, glided unostentatiously into his position and, although Lesbia disliked the creature because he carefully kept George away, she had not the same 憎悪 for him that she 心にいだくd for Mrs. Petty. At his worst Canning was a 害のない individual, 非難するd to do the dirty work of others, because he had not 十分な brains to earn an honest 行う in an honest manner.
His 愛称 had been given him because of his marvellously thin looks, and these were certainly remarkably noticeable. At one time, as he 自白するd to Lesbia, he had 展示（する）d himself in a travelling caravan as The Living 骸骨／概要, but having わずかに 増加するd in 負わせる he had been 発射する／解雇するd. What his leanness must have been 初めは it is hard to say, as even now, he was but 肌 and bone and, 存在 tall, looked like a line—that is, he was length without breadth. His 手渡すs 似ているd a bird’s claws, his 脚s were like sticks, and his skull would have served for a death’s 長，率いる, so devoid was it of flesh. With his lean, clean-shaven 直面する, with his straight, jet-黒人／ボイコット hair, which he wore rather long, and with his skinny, 非常に長い, 狭くする 人物／姿／数字 encased in shabby 幅の広い-cloth, he looked 前向きに／確かに uncanny, and rude boys made 発言／述べるs about him when he walked abroad. He glided about like a 影をつくる／尾行する, haunted shady corners like a 影をつくる／尾行する, and spoke in a whisper as a 影をつくる／尾行する should. The 指名する fitted him 正確に／まさに, and he looked a creature of the night, やめる out of place in the cheerful 日光.
Lesbia did not 認可する of him at first, for obvious 推論する／理由s, and even disliked him 活発に when she 設立する how he dogged her footsteps. But it so happened that the gods chose to turn her heart to a friendless man, and the consequences of the change were more far-reaching than she guessed at the moment.
The days went by very ひどく, since her heart was with George and she could not see him. Certainly she contrived through the ever-faithful Tim to get a 公式文書，認める transmitted to him—the same that George read on the river. And under cover of Tim’s 指名する he sent an answer which 保証するd her that he was still faithful and still loving and ever 希望に満ちた of better days. Lesbia carried about that letter in her bosom day and night and read it when she felt 特に 負かす／撃墜する-hearted, which happened not infrequently. She also waited and she also hoped. Then an event occurred, which in after-time showed how mysteriously things work out to their hidden ends.
The 影をつくる／尾行する fell ill in spite of the warm summer 天候. 存在 of a sickly 憲法, he 突然に caught influenza, and was 軍隊d to go to bed in the little room 近づく Tim’s sanctum. Hale, who had a horror of sickness, at once decided to turn him out; but Sargent, also afraid, 辞退するd to 許す the valet to return to his Cookham house. There appeared to be no 避難 for the 哀れな man but the hospital or the workhouse, until Lesbia suddenly 主張するd herself and 主張するd upon nursing him 支援する to health. Mr. Hale 反対するd, but his daughter, for the first time in her life remained 会社／堅い and, having already 十分な troubles on his 手渡す without creating more, he 産する／生じるd in the end. Moreover, he thought that 事実上の／代理 as a sick-nurse would give Lesbia something to do and take her thoughts away from George. So she was permitted to nurse Canning, while Mr. Hale betook himself to Tait’s sumptuous mansion at Henley.
Mrs. Petty 拒絶する／低下するd to look after the sick man, so Lesbia took 十分な 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 事例／患者, and was 補助装置d by Tim. Not that Tim 認可するd of The 影をつくる／尾行する: but, 存在 tender-hearted, he considered him a poor creature, and so 行為／法令／行動するd the part of the Good Samaritan.
Canning grew delirious and seemed in danger of passing away: but Lesbia 始める，決める herself to struggle with death, and in the end she 征服する／打ち勝つd.
When the man was sane again and 速く 回復するing his strength, Tim told him all that the young mistress had done. It was then that the Irishman saw two big 涙／ほころびs roll 負かす／撃墜する the thin cheeks of the 秘かに調査する.
When Lesbia entered to see how he was, he spoke weakly but to the point. “I have been kicked about all my life,” said The 影をつくる／尾行する brokenly, “and no one has ever said a 肉親，親類d word to me. Mr. Hale and Captain Sargent have 扱う／治療するd me worse than a dog, and but for you, 行方不明になる Lesbia, I should have been thrown out to die in the street. You hate me because I was 始める，決める to watch you—”
“I don’t hate you now, Canning,” she interposed, あわてて. “After all, you only 成し遂げるd the 義務 you were 始める，決める to do by my father.”
“And by Captain Sargent,” whispered The 影をつくる／尾行する. “Don’t forget Captain Sargent. I never shall,” and his weak 手渡す clenched under the coverlet. “But you have 行為／法令／行動するd like an angel, 行方不明になる Lesbia, and some day I may be able to 返す you for what you have done.”
“I only did my 義務,” said the girl, tucking him in.
“You are the first woman or man who has ever done 義務 by me in this world,” said Canning, the 涙／ほころびs rolling 負かす／撃墜する his 直面する. “I know what I know, and some day you may want my help. You shall have it. Yes! you shall have it at whatever cost.”
“What do you know?” she asked wonderingly.
“Never mind.” He turned his 直面する to the 塀で囲む. “When the time comes, call upon me, and I will help you.”
Nothing more was said at the moment, as the man was not 十分に 回復するd to talk much. Lesbia thought occasionally of what he had said, but could not 完全に understand his meaning, unless it was that he would shut his 注目する，もくろむs to the coming of George, should that young man choose to 危険 a visit. But the days went by and George did not come, for, as Canning was sick, Mrs. Petty kept a very strict watch on the girl.
徐々に the words of the sick man were forgotten by Lesbia and, when he went away 完全に 回復するd, she forgot him, having more important 事柄s to think about.
It was すぐに after Canning’s 出発 that Hale returned from Henley with a story which made Lesbia 令状—and 令状 willingly—the letter of 解雇／（訴訟の）却下, which had broken Walker’s heart. After she sent it away her father patted her shoulder, and spoke kindly to her.
“You are now 事実上の／代理 as a sensible girl,” he said, with 冷気／寒がらせる politeness; “and there is no longer any need for Mrs. Petty to remain. I know that you do not like her, so I shall send her away this evening. Canning has also gone and will not return. Things can 逆戻りする to their 初めの course, and you can manage the house along with Tim. But remember, Lesbia, that if your heart 軟化するs に向かって this scamp, I shall 解任する both The 影をつくる／尾行する and Mrs. Petty to watch over you.”
Lesbia, with a white 直面する and 始める，決める lips, looked straight at her father. “I will neither 令状 to George again, nor will I see him,” she said, with a stifled sob. “But whatever you say about his 犯罪, remember that I do not believe it. He is innocent.”
“Then why not stick by him?” asked her father cruelly.
“You know 井戸／弁護士席 enough why I do not: why I cannot. George and I are now entire strangers, and must remain so until the mystery of this 押し込み強盗 is （疑いを）晴らすd up.”
“It will never be （疑いを）晴らすd up, because there is nothing to （疑いを）晴らす up,” said her father calmly. “George stole those jewels of Tait’s for your sake, and it is only Tait’s friendship for his mother and Maud’s 肉親，親類d heart that 妨げるd Walker 存在 逮捕（する）d and 非難するd as a どろぼう.”
Lesbia’s lip curled. “I 不信 行方不明になる Ellis’s 肉親，親類d heart,” said she.
Hale shrugged his thin shoulders. “You can do what you like about that,” he 発言／述べるd carelessly, “but remember that she 持つ／拘留するs George in the hollow of her 手渡す. All you have to do is to forget him and marry Sargent.”
“No!” said Lesbia 前向きに／確かに. “I shall never see George again, since circumstances are too strong for him and for me. But I will never marry Captain Sargent. Be sure of that.”
“He loves you, and—”
“I don’t love him. Say no more, father. What I say, I stand by.”
“You said much before which you have not held by,” retorted Hale, his temper rising; “and circumstances may 証明する too much for you. However, Sargent can wait, and so can I. 一方／合間, since you have 解任するd this young fool, you are 解放する／自由な to come and go as you 願望（する）.”
“One moment,” said Lesbia, as her father turned on his heel, “what about that amethyst cross?”
Hale wheeled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する with a colour in his parchment cheeks, and a 怪しげな look in his 冷淡な, grey 注目する，もくろむs. “What do you mean?”
“You 宣言するd that if George 回復するd the cross, he could marry me.”
“I 持つ／拘留する to that, since I am not a man to go 支援する on my word.”
“But how can I marry George when you say that you can 証明する he is 有罪の of this 押し込み強盗?”
“Maud Ellis can 証明する it, not I,” returned Mr. Hale. He paused and bit his lip hard. “I believe in the 直面する of Walker’s new escapade that he knows who took that cross. His former behaviour may have been a sham, as was his 事実上の／代理 in the gallery. Let him bring me the cross, and perhaps after all he may be able to marry you,”
“I shall never marry him until his character is （疑いを）晴らすd,” said Lesbia 堅固に.
Hale shrugged his shoulders again. “You will find it difficult to （疑いを）晴らす him, my dear,” he sneered, and went away.
Mr. Hale would have spoken rightly in 関係 with a いっそう少なく 決定するd girl. But Lesbia, for all her 壊れやすい looks, was very 決定するd and also very much in love with George Walker. 外見s were against him, and, 裁判官ing by 状況証拠, he certainly was 有罪の. But Lesbia could not bring herself to believe that the man she loved had sunk to 存在 a ありふれた どろぼう. Now that she was 解放する／自由な to leave the cottage and wander whither she would, it was an 平易な 事柄 to 捜し出す out George at Medmenham, and ask direct questions.
But this Lesbia did not do, because her father had 詳細（に述べる）d fully all that Walker had said and all that he had done, so there was no more to learn in that ４半期/4分の1. Moreover, Hale had 明言する／公表するd with a sneer that Maud Ellis was 猛烈に in love with the young man, and Lesbia 解任するd George’s hesitation about speaking of his 願望（する） to leave Tait’s office. “There are other things to be considered,” Walker had said, and then had blushed. Now the girl knew intuitively that he referred to Maud Ellis.
Lesbia’s 直面する grew 紅潮／摘発するd and angry as she thought of her 競争相手. She 信用d George, who was her very own, but instinctively she knew the wiles of women, and dreaded lest her letter of 解雇／（訴訟の）却下 should throw the young man into the 武器 of the stockbroker’s niece. Thus it （機の）カム about that Lesbia’s meditations led her, not to Mrs. Walker’s cottage at Medmenham, but to the splendid mansion at Henley, where Maud Ellis was waiting for George to come to her.
Maud had learned from Mr. Hale that George had received his letter of 解雇／（訴訟の）却下 from Lesbia, and so waited to catch him on the recoil. He would certainly come 支援する to her who had so boldly stood by him when he had been （刑事）被告. But as the days went by George did not come, and Maud’s heart grew sick, for she was honestly in love.
Her uncle was absent in the City, still 捜し出すing for the lost jewels, and the 地元の police together with a couple of 探偵，刑事s from Scotland Yard were doing their best to solve the mystery. But all 成果／努力s were in vain. No trace had been 設立する of the thieves, and the jewels could not be 回復するd. Tait 招待するd no more people to his Henley mansion, and remained a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 in London 不平（をいう）ing over his loss. Maud would have gone up also, but that she waited vainly at home in the hope that George would come to her for なぐさみ.
One afternoon while she was thus waiting, and had arrayed herself in her prettiest frock on the chance of a visit, the footman intimated that a young lady wished to see her. She had no card, said the footman, and had 簡単に 明言する／公表するd that her 指名する was 行方不明になる Lesbia Hale.
Maud’s 注目する，もくろむs flashed when she heard the 指名する of her 競争相手, and she ordered the man to lead the guest at once to the long 製図／抽選-room. 行方不明になる Ellis was 猛烈に anxious to see the 直面する that had 逮捕（する）d the heart of George Walker. Before 修理ing to the 製図／抽選-room, she altered a few things about her dress, for, 存在 very much the woman, she knew that she was about to 会合，会う a dangerous 敵. A man would not notice a dress overmuch, but a woman would, at the very first ちらりと見ること, and Maud was 決定するd that there should be no 欠陥 in her armour, so far as frocks and frills went.
Lesbia, very pale, but やめる 静める, waited impatiently for the 外見 of 行方不明になる Ellis. When that young lady sailed into the room with outstretched 手渡すs and a beaming smile, Lesbia rose with a stony 直面する and a 冷淡な, distant manner. Maud’s 手渡すs fell, when she saw that she was 存在 kept at a distance, and she became formal also. In her heart she grew angry, when she saw Lesbia’s beauty, for 存在 very sensible, she knew that her own looks were much inferior. A shade passed over her 直面する, but soon was 取って代わるd by a malicious smile. Maud knew that, beauty or no beauty, she held the trump card and could 勝利，勝つ the game at her leisure. Lesbia saw that smile.
“I know why you look like that,” she said 突然の. Maud straightened her neat 人物／姿／数字, and raised her sandy eyebrows.
“What a very strange speech to make at our first 会合, 行方不明になる Hale!” she said, coldly and superciliously.
“Ah,” retorted Lesbia. “You see that I am not used to society.”
“Is there any occasion to tell me that?” asked Maud, sweetly.
But Lesbia was too 猛烈に in earnest to be daunted by such feline talk. “There is no occasion to tell you many things,” she said, “nor is there need for （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing about the bush. My father has told me everything.”
“About what may I ask?”
“About this 押し込み強盗 and about George.”
“George?” 行方不明になる Ellis raised her eyebrows again. “George?” she repeated.
“I have the 権利 to call him so,” 再結合させるd Lesbia hotly. “I am engaged to him, 行方不明になる Ellis.”
“Was engaged, I understand.”
“Yes.” Lesbia suddenly looked 疲労，（軍の）雑役d and would have dearly liked to sit 負かす／撃墜する, but pride 妨げるd her. Maud saw this and scratched again.
“Won’t you sit 負かす／撃墜する?”
“No, thank you!” replied Lesbia, 強化するing. “I am only here for a few minutes, and can say all that I have to say in that time.”
行方不明になる Ellis flicked a scented handkerchief across her lips to hide a smile, and looked searchingly at her 訪問者’s white 直面する. “I really don’t know why you talk to me like this.”
“Oh, yes you do. In the same way I knew why you smiled when you entered. You think that you can 勝利，勝つ the game. But you shan’t!”
“What game?”
“The game we play for George. My father has told me all. I love George and you love him also.”
“Your father seems to be very 井戸／弁護士席-知らせるd,” sneered Maud, 紅潮／摘発するing.
“He usually is,” Lesbia 保証するd her, with 広大な／多数の／重要な coolness. “It was only when my father told me about this 押し込み強盗, that I learned you loved George.”
“I do love him!” cried Maud defiantly, “but I don’t see that it 事柄s to you—now.”
“It 事柄s a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定,” said Lesbia coldly. “I am only an unsophisticated girl, 行方不明になる Ellis, but I don’t ーするつもりである to give up the man I love, without a struggle.”
“I understand that you have given him up.”
“For the time 存在, until I can 軍隊 you to 証明する his innocence.”
“軍隊 me!” 行方不明になる Ellis raised her eyebrows for the third time, but her 直面する grew angry, for she did not like this very straight speaking. “What have I to do with the 事柄? I believe that George is innocent myself, and told my uncle so. Indeed, had I not stood up for George, he would now be in gaol.”
Lesbia smiled contemptuously. “It’s all part of the game,” she retorted. “I am a woman, not a man, 行方不明になる Hale, and I can see very plainly how George walked into the 罠（にかける） you 始める，決める for him.”
“I 始める，決める no 罠（にかける）. And if George says—”
“George says nothing. I have not seen him for a long time. But my father told me how George was in the gallery and you also.”
“Did he tell you that George （機の）カム to 会合，会う me?” asked Maud maliciously.
“No, nor do I believe you.”
“Then he did.”
“It is a 嘘（をつく）,” said Lesbia, impolitely but very 堅固に. “I don’t believe it.”
“Ask George himself,” cried Maud. “He will tell you that we had a 会合 at three in the morning and—”
Lesbia, who was looking at her, gave an ironical laugh. “Oh, I believe you now,” she said slowly, “I can see the truth in your 注目する，もくろむs. Yes, George did 会合，会う you by 任命. Why, I don’t know—”
“Because he loved me.”
“He never loved you!” cried Lesbia furiously, and looked so angry that Maud あわてて stepped 支援する a pace, thinking she would be struck. “He loves me and me only. But you inveigled him into the gallery, into a 罠（にかける）, and made use of this 押し込み強盗 to 軍隊 him to be your husband.”
“I told my uncle that George was innocent.”
“Yes, because it ふさわしい your 調書をとる／予約する to do so. But you told my father, and he passed the message on to me, that if I did not 解任する George, you would 証明する his 犯罪.”
Maud tore her handkerchief to 略章s. “And I can too,” she said, between her teeth. “You are やめる 権利. To the world I should say nothing; but to you I can say what I please. We love the same man. I want him, and I am going to get him. I did 罠（にかける） George into a 会合, but the 押し込み強盗 was unforeseen. I can make use of it, which, let me remind you, 行方不明になる Hale, I have not done yet. Remember I was chloroformed, and the 重要な was taken from my neck to open the 安全な. What would be easier than for me to 宣言する that George Walker asked me to 会合，会う him in the gallery and （判決などを）下すd me insensible and stole the jewels, after taking the 重要な, and buried them in the garden, coming 支援する to tell falsehoods? If I speak—”
“You won’t speak.”
“I shall speak, rather than let George marry you,” flashed out Maud.
Lesbia sneered. “You remind me of the motto of the French 革命,” she said. “‘Be my brother or I’ll kill you,’ so George is to marry you—”
“Or go to gaol. 正確に／まさに!”
“Thank you!” Lesbia moved 速く to the door. “Now that I know your 意向s I can go.”
“What will you do?” Maud followed, aghast at this abrupt 出発.
“証明する George’s innocence, and marry him.”
“Try!” said Maud, between her teeth, “try and fail.”
If Lesbia had been a trifle more 詩（を作る）d in the ways of the wicked world, she would have remained longer in conversation with Maud, if only to learn about that lady’s 計画（する）s. Maud 宣言するd that unless George became her husband she would have him put into gaol for the 押し込み強盗. But it was difficult to know how she ーするつもりであるd to proceed. Of course, she could 宣言する that Walker had chloroformed her and had stolen the 重要な of the strong-room to steal the jewels, but she had no one to 証明する the truth of her story, plausible as it was, in the 直面する of Walker’s known presence in the picture-gallery. It was George’s word against Maud’s and, therefore, the 法律 would have no 平易な 事柄 to 証明する the young man’s supposed 犯罪.
But Lesbia was so hot with indignation at the 発見 of Maud’s mean 陰謀（を企てる） that she ended the interview 突然の, and walked quickly away trying to stifle her 激怒（する）. For George’s sake it was necessary that she should keep a （疑いを）晴らす 長，率いる, and it was necessary also that she should learn the truth of this 共謀—as she verily believed it to be.
Come what might, Lesbia decided in her own mind that George should marry her. But to bring this about she had not only to （疑いを）晴らす his character, but to find the amethyst cross and 回復する it to her father. But where the cross might be she could not guess. The mystery of the 強盗 and of George’s presence in the cottage on that 致命的な night had never been （疑いを）晴らすd up.
Walking 速く 負かす／撃墜する to the river Lesbia thought over these things, and thought still more when she entered Tim’s boat. The little man had 列／漕ぐ／騒動d her up to Henley at her request, and took her 支援する the same way. She had 詳細（に述べる）d her 推論する／理由s for visiting 行方不明になる Ellis, but had received scanty 慰安 from Tim. He was 性質の／したい気がして to take a 暗い／優うつな 見解（をとる） of the 事柄.
“It’s the crass, bad luck to it!” groaned Tim, when she told him how 不正に she had fared. “Sure there’s nivir 貯蔵所 a moment’s pace sinse it was lost.”
“That is very true,” 再結合させるd Lesbia, steering the boat に向かって the lock, and reviewing in her own mind the untoward circumstances which had 乱すd her life since the 提案 of George in the garden. From the time when the cross had been given to him, there had been nothing but incessant trouble. Her father had 激怒（する）d, her lover had been 強襲，強姦d, her liberty had been curtailed, and George had lost his 状況／情勢 through 存在 （刑事）被告 of a sordid 罪，犯罪. And to 栄冠を与える all, another woman, of whose 存在 she had scarcely heard, had stepped in to （人命などを）奪う，主張する Walker as her 未来 husband.
“It’s very true,” sighed Lesbia dolefully, “the cross has brought nothing but trouble. If we could get it 支援する again things might mend. But the question is, how to 回復する it?”
Tim bent to his oars, and shook his 長，率いる with another groan. “Let it 企て，努力，提案, 行方不明になる, let it 企て，努力，提案. Sure we don’t want more kick-ups. Me mother, rist her sowl, towld me that the crass wud bring lashins av worry whin ye guv it off av yer 手渡す. An’ it’s truth she spoke, me dear.”
“Do you know where she got the cross, Tim?”
“Sure, 行方不明になる, an’ didn’t she tell ye whin she died? ‘Twas yer mother’s. I know no more nor that, me dear, ‘twas your mother’s. As for Masther Garge, cudn’t ye forgit him, 行方不明になる?”
“No!” cried Lesbia, indignantly. “I shall love George as long as I live. I can no more forget him than he can forget me. Would you have me marry Captain Sargent?”
“Sure, an’ I wudn’t. He’s a proud baste, an’ if ye married him, me dear, he’d be afther bringing me to the gallows, for his treatmint av ye, 行方不明になる Lesbia.”
“Then don’t let us talk any more about the 事柄,” cried Lesbia, impetuously. “I shall keep my 約束 with George.”
“Wud ye like to see him, 行方不明になる?”
“No,” said the girl 敏速に. “I told him in my letter that we must never 会合，会う again. Nor will we until this mystery of the 押し込み強盗 is （疑いを）晴らすd up. I ーするつもりである to （疑いを）晴らす it up.”
“But how, 行方不明になる? Ye’ve no 病弱な to help ye.”
Lesbia 反映するd. “There’s The 影をつくる／尾行する,” she said 静かに.
“An’ what wud that poor cratur be afther doing, 行方不明になる?”
“I don’t know. But he 申し込む／申し出d to help me, so I shall put his professions of 感謝 to the 実験（する）. Tim, to-night you must go 負かす／撃墜する to Cookham and bring him 支援する with you.”
“Augh!” groaned Tim, annoyed that anyone but himself should do anything for his darling. “Sure he’s out av the house, so let him 企て，努力，提案, me dear.”
“If you don’t go to Cookham, I will,” said Lesbia 堅固に.
“An’ have trouble wid that baste av a Captain? Me dear, I’ll go.”
And Tim was as good as his word. Lesbia reached the cottage to find that her father had left a 公式文書，認める 説 he had gone to London for a few days. Hale was always stealing off on mysterious errands, かもしれない connected with his 平等に mysterious 商売／仕事.
Of late no 半端物 characters had been coming to the cottage, but Hale was absent much more frequently. On this occasion his absence was welcome, as it gave Lesbia a chance of arranging her 計画（する）s with Canning. What these might be she had, as yet, no very （疑いを）晴らす idea. All she ーするつもりであるd to do was to explain the 状況／情勢 and ask The 影をつくる／尾行する what was best to be done. When she received his opinion, she could then take a step 今後 into the 隠すing もやs which surrounded her.
While Tim 列／漕ぐ／騒動d 負かす／撃墜する to Cookham, which he did after 上陸 Lesbia at the 底（に届く） of the garden, the girl ran into the cottage. She 設立する that she had it all to herself as, true to his 約束, Mr. Hale had 解任するd Mrs. Petty. That good lady, liking the 平易な place, had retired in high dudgeon, and would have shown fight but that Hale 鎮圧するd her with a ちらりと見ること of his 冷淡な, grey 注目する，もくろむ.
Hale, indeed, 所有するd a 広大な／多数の／重要な 力／強力にする—perhaps a hypnotic 力／強力にする—over those who （機の）カム to the cottage. Had not Canning fallen sick, and thus had been 除去するd from his 影響（力）, it is very 疑わしい if he would have 申し込む／申し出d his services to Lesbia. However, he had done so, and the girl was about to 受託する them gratefully.
Lesbia passed the time in dressing herself for dinner, and in partaking of it. It was a homely meal, consisting of 冷淡な meat and salad, bread and cheese and a glass of prime claret. Afterwards Lesbia made herself a cup of 黒人／ボイコット coffee, and sat 負かす／撃墜する in the tiny 製図／抽選-room with a 調書をとる／予約する, 未解決の the arrival of The 影をつくる／尾行する. But her thoughts wandered from the printed page to George, and more than ever she longed for his coming. It had cost her much to 令状 the letter of 解雇／（訴訟の）却下, but in the 直面する of Maud’s 脅し, as 伝えるd to her by Hale, she could do nothing else. And the worst of it was that she had not been permitted to 割り当てる a 原因（となる） for what George must regard as her heartless behaviour.
However, and very luckily, she had scanty time for sad reflections, for すぐに she heard the hearty 発言する／表明する of Tim, as he entered the house by the 支援する door, and later the sibilant whisper of The 影をつくる／尾行する.
In a few minutes Canning 現在のd himself, looking more lean and more dismal than ever in his customary 控訴 of 黒人／ボイコット. But his haggard 直面する was lighted up with an eager smile. The mere fact that Lesbia had decided to avail herself of his services made him as gay as such a sad personage 井戸／弁護士席 could be. Canning was 猛烈に anxious to 返す the 親切 he had received.
“I am glad to see you,” said Lesbia cordially. “You lost no time.”
“No, 行方不明になる,” whispered the grim man, who stood with long, hanging 武器 at the door. “Captain Sargent went to London to-day with your father, and I （機の）カム 支援する with Tim at once. I am so glad you want me to help you, 行方不明になる.”
“I need your help very 不正に,” sighed Lesbia, passing her 手渡す across her brow. “Will you not sit 負かす／撃墜する, Canning.”
“In your presence, 行方不明になる? Please excuse me.”
“But you are yet weak after your illness. Sit 負かす／撃墜する. I want you to.”
Thus 勧めるd, The 影をつくる／尾行する sank softly on to the extreme 辛勝する／優位 of a convenient 議長，司会を務める placed 近づく the door. Here he 直す／買収する，八百長をするd his sad 注目する，もくろむs on the beautiful 見通し at the window, and adored in silence.
Lesbia turned 事柄s over in her mind. She knew that she would have to speak very plainly, and had a natural 不本意 to doing so, since Canning was a servant and a stranger.
Still, he was the 単独の person who could help her, as now that George was out of her life, 一時的に, at all events, she felt very lonely. Her father neither gave her affection, nor 願望（する）d any, and certainly would not put out a 手渡す to save George, much いっそう少なく （疑いを）晴らす his character. Why should he, when he 手配中の，お尋ね者 Walker out of the way so that his daughter could marry Sargent?
Lesbia thought of these things with her 注目する，もくろむs on the 床に打ち倒す, and finally 決定するd to 自白する everything, as her 苦境 and that of George was too desperate to 許す of over-nice feelings.
With some colour, therefore, she 関係のある the whole story from the time that Walker had 提案するd to the result of her visit to Maud.
“I was 軍隊d to 解任する Mr. Walker,” she said in 新規加入, “because my father （機の）カム 支援する to tell me that 行方不明になる Ellis had 脅すd to have Mr. Walker 逮捕（する）d. I saw 行方不明になる Ellis also, as I have told you, and she 宣言するs that she can 証明する Mr. Walker’s 犯罪, and will do so unless he marries her.”
Canning, with his sad 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd upon her, heard the whole tale without comment. At the end he nodded. “What do you wish me to do, 行方不明になる?”
“I want you to learn who committed this 押し込み強盗 at Mr. Tait’s house, so that Mr. Walker can be （疑いを）晴らすd.”
“But how can I do that, 行方不明になる, when I am servant to Captain Sargent? I have my 義務s to consider.”
“I know that,” Lesbia 滞るd, and became downcast, “and then you have no experience in looking into these things. I am sorry you cannot help me.”
“I did not say that, 行方不明になる.”
“Then you will?”
The 影をつくる／尾行する 反映するd, but did not take his 注目する，もくろむs from her eager 直面する. “Yes!” he said at length. “I will help you.”
“Oh, Canning, thank you so much. But how?”
“I can’t say yet, 行方不明になる. In the first place I must leave Captain Sargent.”
Lesbia rose impulsively. “I don’t want you to lose your 状況／情勢.”
“I had ーするつもりであるd to give the Captain notice long ago,” explained Canning, rising in his turn. “What you say decides me. I shall go to London, and in one way or another I may be able to learn who stole those jewels.”
“But why in London? They were stolen at Henley.”
“やめる so, but the two thieves—if Mr. Walker is to be believed, there were two—must have taken the jewels to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of them in London. Leave everything to me, 行方不明になる. I was in an 調査 office once, and know how to go about these 事柄s. But,” he hesitated, “it will 要求する money.”
“Oh!” Lesbia uttered an ejaculation of 狼狽. “I have 非，不，無.”
“Can’t your father give you some, 行方不明になる?”
Lesbia shook her 長，率いる. “He wants me to marry Captain Sargent, and so will not 許す me to help Mr. Walker. No, my father will give me nothing. What is to be done?”
“I don’t know, 行方不明になる. But I have no money and I must have at least fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs to work on. I shall learn about the 押し込み強盗 first and then will discover who knocked 負かす／撃墜する Mr. Walker and stole the cross.” He paused. “Has Tim saved any money?”
“No, poor soul,” sighed Lesbia, “my father never 支払う／賃金s him any 給料. I am sure he would lend me the money if he had it. There is no one from whom I can borrow, and—” here a sudden idea （機の）カム to the girl, and she 紅潮／摘発するd crimson with mingled hope and nervous 恐れる. “Oh!” she cried, “he might, he might.”
“Who might, 行方不明になる?” asked the man はっきりと.
Lesbia took no notice. “Fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs,” she murmured. “It’s a large sum of money. Still he might. He—” she stopped again as she saw The 影をつくる／尾行する looking at her curiously. “Go away, Canning, and return to-morrow evening. I hope to have the fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs by then.”
“行方不明になる,” Canning spoke slowly and impressively, “you have honoured me with your 信用／信任, and you will never 悔いる doing so, as I am 完全に 充てるd to you. 追加する to that 信用／信任 by telling me from whom you design to borrow this fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs.”
“There is no 推論する／理由 why you should not know,” said Lesbia quickly, “I am thinking of Lord Charvington.”
“Mr. Hale’s cousin.”
“Oh, you know that,” she cried, surprised.
“Yes,” The 影をつくる／尾行する laughed in his whispering, silent way, rather oddly. “I know more than you give me credit for. You see,” he 追加するd, slowly, and with a downcast 直面する, “I was at school with your father and Charvington.”
“You,” Lesbia gasped in astonishment, and 星／主役にするd at the lean, dusky, untidy 人物／姿／数字 before her. Then she remembered the scrupulous refinement of the man, 公式文書，認めるd もう一度 his excellent diction, and suddenly saw in the weird 直面する and 人物／姿／数字 証拠s of good 産む／飼育するing.
“Mr. Canning,” she said suddenly, and gave him a new position at once, “you are a gentleman!”
“I was a gentleman,” he replied 激しく, and dropping his use of the word “行方不明になる.” “Now I am Captain Sargent’s valet and a wastrel. But I am also your very 充てるd servant, 行方不明になる Hale,” he 屈服するd. “Let it remain at that.”
“But how did you come to—”
“Don’t ask me—don’t ask me,” said Canning hurriedly. “Some day you will learn how I （機の）カム to 占領する this position. 一方／合間, get the fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs from Charvington”—Lesbia 公式文書，認めるd that he spoke やめる as an equal of the nobleman—“and give it to me. I shall save your lover and make your path straight for you.”
“Can you do this, Mr. Canning?”
“Yes,” he answered 簡単に. “Good-night, 行方不明になる Hale. Please do not tell Tim what I have について言及するd, and say nothing to Charvington. To-morrow night I shall come for the fifty, and the—” he paused, opened and の近くにd his 手渡す several times, and then 消えるd with a sigh. He might indeed have been a veritable 影をつくる／尾行する from the noiseless way in which he disappeared.
Lesbia remained （一定の）期間-bound. In a flash it occurred to her that she should long ago have guessed that The 影をつくる／尾行する was other than he appeared to be. Many things which had puzzled her became plain, and she wondered how a gentleman had sunk so low as to be a 秘かに調査する, and to 占領する the position of Sargent’s valet. But she had too much delicacy to question Canning, until such time as he chose of his own 解放する／自由な will to speak out.
Besides, she had much to think about in 関係 with her 提案するd borrowing of fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs from Lord Charvington. And unless she could procure that sum, there would be no chance of George 存在 saved from the clutches of Maud Ellis.
The nobleman in question was a cousin of Mr. Hale’s and had once or twice been to the cottage. Indeed, Lesbia had 推論する／理由 to believe that Lord Charvington 許すd her father a 確かな sum every ４半期/4分の1, although this seemed strange in the 直面する of Hale’s 主張 that he could give her two thousand a year if she married to his liking. There was also the 商売／仕事 in the City about which Lesbia knew nothing. Why should a man in 商売／仕事 受託する an annuity?
It was all very strange, but then everything connected with Mr. Walter Hale was strange, and now that Lesbia began to think, she began to 不信 her father. Why did he keep his 商売／仕事 secret? Why did he 受託する an annuity, and then 宣言する that he could give her a large income? Why did he have such shady people at the cottage whom he scarcely permitted her to see? Altogether Lesbia became aware that there was something 悪意のある about her father’s position. She felt like a 選挙立会人 of a 黒人／ボイコット cloud waiting for it to 発射する／解雇する 雷. More than ever did she 決定する at least to have the mysteries of the 押し込み強盗 and of the cross （疑いを）晴らすd up. The old time of peace had passed away for the girl, and now she felt that she would have to go 前へ／外へ and do 戦う／戦い.
With regard to Charvington, she knew him moderately 井戸／弁護士席. He had always been 肉親，親類d to her, and she had heard her father 明言する／公表する that the nobleman was her godfather. It seemed rather 冷静な／正味の to 適用する to him for a 貸付金 of fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs, but Lesbia was not only desperate but also very unsophisticated in worldly ways.
Almost without considering what she was about, she wrote a hurried letter asking him to lend her fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs for six months, and 約束d to explain later why she 願望（する）d the 貸付金. She 提案するd in her own mind to 返す the money by selling the amethyst cross when Canning should get it 支援する for her, as she believed he would.
Of course the whole 商売／仕事 was very naïve and very childish, and a girl more 詩（を作る）d in worldly things would never have 投機・賭けるd to take such a step. But Lesbia, just like a 信用ing child, asked for the money, and 地位，任命するd her letter with a 祈り that God would 認める her request.
Like a newly-育てる／巣立つd gambler, who 勝利，勝つs every game through sheer ignorance, Lesbia’s 猛烈に-played card turned up trumps in four and twenty hours. Lord Charvington sent her a cheque by return of 地位，任命する and 招待するd her to come and explain 事柄s to him 本人自身で. Lesbia danced with joy.
“Now!” she said to herself. “George is 安全な. Thank God!”
When Mr. Hale returned in three days from London, he was surprised to find Lesbia 極端に cheerful. She had every 権利 to be, since she had given the fifty-続けざまに猛撃する cheque to Canning, and he was now in town looking into the 事柄 of the Henley 押し込み強盗. How Canning managed to get away from his master so expeditiously, Lesbia could not tell, nor did she 問い合わせ. It was やめる enough for her to know that The 影をつくる／尾行する was searching into the 事例／患者. To Lord Charvington she had sent a letter thanking him for the money, and 約束ing to come over and tell him everything as soon as she could. These things made her 希望に満ちた and 有望な in spite of her 施行するd severance from George, and she managed, by looking に向かって a 有望な 未来, to 所有する her soul in patience. But Hale was ignorant of what she was doing, and her behaviour puzzled him.
“I thought you loved Walker,” he said 突然の, and with 疑惑.
“Of course I do,” 再結合させるd the girl cheerfully.
“It does not seem like it.”
Lesbia shrugged her shoulders. “What is the use of crying over spilt milk?” she asked. “My going about with a long 直面する will not make George’s position any the more endurable. Some day when his character has been （疑いを）晴らすd things will change.”
“They will never change,” said Mr. Hale coldly and 厳しく. “Walker has committed a sordid 罪，犯罪, and can never marry you.”
“I don’t believe that he is 有罪の,” retorted Lesbia deliberately. “And even if I 認める for the sake of argument that he is, 行方不明になる Ellis does not seem to think that his 犯罪 is a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 to his marriage with her.”
“She’s a love-sick fool.”
“So am I.”
“With this difference, that she can marry him and you can’t. And talking of 行方不明になる Ellis,” went on Hale, becoming more 厳しい than ever; “I saw her in London and she told me that you had 現実に been to see her.”
“Why not?” asked Lesbia defiantly. “That is no 罪，犯罪.”
“It is an impertinence to see her and to talk to her as you did. Why did you go, Lesbia?”
“I wished to find out how she 提案するd to 軍隊 George to become her husband. I have learned that much. She ーするつもりであるs to 軍隊 him by telling a 嘘（をつく）.”
“How do you know that what she says is a 嘘（をつく）?” 需要・要求するd Hale 怒って.
“Because I read it in her 注目する，もくろむs. A man would not have done so, but I am a woman, and you can 信用 one woman to learn everything another woman leaves unsaid, 特に when a man is the 火刑／賭ける between them.”
“You should have more modesty,” snapped her father uncomfortably.
Lesbia coloured. “I have behaved 適切に in every way,” she said, in a 負傷させるd 発言する／表明する; “and, as I love George, I had every 権利 to learn how this woman 提案するd to take him from me.”
“井戸／弁護士席, you know now that she can.”
“She thinks she can,” said Lesbia, with 強調; “that is different.”
“Nonsense! She can 証明する that he took the 重要な from her neck and stole the jewels,” 主張するd Mr. Hale.
“It is her word against his,” 再結合させるd Lesbia drily; “and until 行方不明になる Ellis 証明するs the truth of her 声明 I believe in George’s innocence.”
“Lesbia,” cried her father, rising, “what has come to you? 以前は you used to be 静かな and 井戸／弁護士席-behaved and did as you were told; now—”
“Now,” said the girl, getting on her feet and looking very straight at her father; “now I am a woman, fighting for her happiness, and so will do my best to 持つ／拘留する my own against your tyranny.”
Hale did not like the word, and said so. “I am your father and no tyrant.”
“You are both, and much more the latter than the former. I don’t know how it is,” said Lesbia, pondering, “but I have an idea that you are using me as a pawn in some game you are playing. 行方不明になる Ellis is in the game also, and so is Captain Sargent. What the game may be I don’t know, and I 拒絶する／低下する to be 押し進めるd about a chess-board without knowing why I move.”
“You shall do as you are told,” said Hale, livid with secret 激怒（する）, but not daring to show it 率直に, lest he should lose more of his already 病弱なing 影響（力）.
“I shall do as I think fit,” retorted the girl, her spirit up in 武器. “I don’t care if you are fifty times my father, you shall not 扱う／治療する me in this way any longer. If I can （疑いを）晴らす George’s character, I shall see him and marry him, and if you dare to bring in Mrs. Petty to 秘かに調査する on me, I shall 控訴，上告 to my godfather.”
“Your godfather. And who may he be?”
“You told me once and I have never forgotten. Lord Charvington is my—”
“I spoke at 無作為の,” broke in Hale あわてて. “He is not your godfather. He is nothing more than my cousin and my friend.”
“And your benefactor,” said Lesbia, unable to resist the 軸. “And 存在 so, what will he say if he learns how unkindly you are behaving?”
“Lesbia, you are mad!”
“No! For years I have been your puppet. Lately I have discovered that I am a human 存在 with a will of my own. So long as you leave me alone I am content to behave as your daughter. But I 拒絶する／低下する to 耐える tyranny, and I 拒絶する／低下する to be made use of in this mysterious game you are playing. I am very glad you spoke to me this morning, father, as it was time that we （機の）カム to an understanding;” and Lesbia, with her 長，率いる up, marched out of the room. But she would have been 脅すd had she looked 支援する and seen the 表現 on her father’s 直面する. It was little いっそう少なく than devilish with 激怒（する） and baffled cunning.
The worm had been obedient for so long that Hale had never 推定する／予想するd the turning and it （機の）カム upon him with a shock. He could not afford to let Lesbia 控訴，上告 for 保護 to his noble 親族, as he knew that Lord Charvington was the kindest of men and would, undoubtedly, 干渉する.
Of course in an ordinary 事例／患者, Hale could have 妨げるd such 干渉，妨害 between a father and daughter. But with Charvington, who 許すd him an annuity, it was different. If Hale did not behave 井戸／弁護士席 to Lesbia, he felt very 確かな that Charvington would punish him by taking away the 年４回の sum. And in spite of his 商売／仕事 in the City, and his 誇る that he could give Lesbia two thousand a year, Hale could not afford to lose so 確かな an income.
He therefore said no more to Lesbia on the 支配するs of George and 行方不明になる Ellis and the 押し込み強盗. Nor did he bring 支援する The 影をつくる／尾行する and Mrs. Petty. Indeed, he could not bring 支援する the former, as he had heard from Sargent that the man had thrown up his 状況／情勢, and had gone to London.
This 存在 the 事例／患者, if Lesbia chose to see George it was impossible to 妨げる her from having her own way. But Hale 信用d that after the letter of 解雇／（訴訟の）却下 George would 辞退する to have anything to do with the girl who had 明らかに thrown him over. 一方／合間 he asked Sargent to the cottage frequently, and advised him to 起訴する his 支持を得ようと努めるing with all zeal. “If you don’t 安全な・保証する the girl soon, you will lose her,” said Hale emphatically.
“I shall do so as soon as I can get a chance of seeing her alone,” said Sargent, and strove to look the handsome, gallant lover.
It was after dinner that he spoke thus; and in the light which （機の）カム through the rosy shades of the candles he seemed wonderfully young, and not at all bad-looking. As usual, he was perfectly dressed in evening array, and yet had that ultra-流行の／上流の 空気／公表する, which is such a 示す of inferior 産む／飼育するing. Captain Alfred Sargent looked like a gentleman, and yet there was something 欠如（する）ing in manner to 完全にする the dress and pretensions. The rosy lights made him look いっそう少なく colourless for the moment; but when in pursuance of his 反対する he strolled into the garden to 会合，会う Lesbia, he became やめる 病弱な, white and worn-looking in the warm summer moonlight.
行方不明になる Hale, in a simple white dress, looking 甘い and girlish and remarkably pretty, sat on the （法廷の）裁判 under the chestnut—in the very place where George had made his memorable 提案. Disliking Sargent as she did, and the more so since her father wished her to marry him, she had 早期に left the dinner-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する to take 避難 in this love-haunted 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, and dream of George.
With the inconsequence of a woman, she rather resented the fact that her lover had not replied to his letter of 解雇／（訴訟の）却下. She had not thought that he would 受託する her 決定／判定勝ち（する） so readily, and in her heart she 願望（する）d that he should come along to take her by 嵐／襲撃する. At times she fancied, indeed, that he would suddenly appear to carry her off to the nearest church, and so frequently sought the garden to afford him an 適切な時期 to play “Young Lochinvar.”
There was also another 推論する／理由. In the garden she hoped to 会合，会う The 影をつくる／尾行する. Lately, he had sent her a line—through Tim—明言する／公表するing that he had discovered a 手がかり（を与える） to the 強盗, and that he would come 負かす／撃墜する to tell her about it. Lesbia 任命するd the 底（に届く） of the garden as the best place of 会合 as her father rarely （機の）カム there, and Canning could easily 列／漕ぐ／騒動 up to the 上陸-行う／開催する／段階 in the twilight. Every evening she 推定する／予想するd him, but as yet he had not appeared. Thus, she was much annoyed when she beheld the slender form of the ex-captain in the distance.
With a cigarette in his mouth, which he was languidly smoking, Sargent strolled pensively 負かす／撃墜する the path, and finally （機の）カム to a 停止（させる） before the pretty 人物／姿／数字 on the garden-seat. Lesbia looked at him blankly, and gave him no 激励.
“A penny for your thoughts, 行方不明になる Hale,” said the gallant captain, 軍隊d by her silence to utter the first word.
“They are 価値（がある） the Bank of England,” replied Lesbia, 解決するing to make the best of this bore, since to get rid of him by plain speaking only meant unnecessary trouble with her father.
“In that 事例／患者,” said Sargent softly, and 前進するing nearer, “may I hope they were of me?”
“If you are so very egotistic,” said the girl bitingly, “you can think so.”
“You are cruel,” muttered Sargent, somewhat disconcerted. He had not 推定する／予想するd so cutting a speech from so 明らかに timid a girl. “Why are you so cruel to me, Lesbia—I may call you Lesbia, may I not?”
“No,” said Lesbia coldly, “I see no 推論する／理由 why you should. As to 存在 cruel, Captain Sargent, I am not aware that I am.”
“Surely,” 盗品故買者d the captain, “you are aware that I love you.”
Lesbia laughed, and he was more disconcerted than ever. “I am aware that my father wishes me to marry you; but he said nothing of love.”
“He left it for me to say.”
“井戸／弁護士席, then, say it,” 発言／述べるd 行方不明になる Hale cruelly.
Sargent had met plenty of women and, with his good looks and 評判 for wealth, had usually 得点する／非難する／２０d an 平易な victory. But this girl was so straightforward and so 絶対 静める that he did not know how to proceed. With an uneasy laugh he strove to 落ちる into her humour. “I love you,” he stammered.
“Why?” asked Lesbia, still 静める and exasperating.
“Look in the glass, and ask me why,” he said ardently. “Can I behold such loveliness and—”
“Captain Sargent,” she broke in, smiling 概して, “you speak just like a lover of the 中央の-Victorian 時代. I have read such speeches in 調書をとる／予約するs, and I have always thought them exceedingly silly. Be more 初めの!”
Don Giovanni himself would have turned restive when advised to alter his style of love-making, and Captain Sargent’s waxen 直面する grew red with wrath. He was a 無血の person, so his 怒り／怒る was more like that of a fretful child than that of a man.
Lesbia looked at him with a contempt which he 設立する hard to 耐える. She 手配中の，お尋ね者 a man to master her as all women do, and she saw that this wooer could never 支配する.
“You are very unkind, Lesbia,” was all that Sargent could find to say.
“In that 事例／患者, why not leave me and go 支援する to my father?”
“Because I （機の）カム from your father. He wants you to marry me. I want it also. Come,” he went on coaxingly, “be my wife, Lesbia, and you shall have everything that the world can give you.”
“I daresay. Everything but a husband.”
“I shall be your husband.”
“You!” she looked him up and 負かす／撃墜する until he reddened to the roots of his straw-coloured hair. “I would rather be excused.”
“You won’t marry me.”
“Certainly not.”
Sargent grew childish with 激怒（する）. “If you do not there will be trouble. I can 廃虚 that man you love—that bounder Walker!”
“He is not a bounder; he is a man, and it will take a stronger man than you, Captain Sargent, to 害（を与える） him.”
“But I can 害（を与える） him, and I shall do so,” cried the captain, and his delicate 直面する took on an 表現 of cunning. Weak as he was, Lesbia could see that 負傷させるd vanity might make him dangerous. “This 押し込み強盗—”
“What do you know about it?” 需要・要求するd Lesbia imperiously.
“Walker is 有罪の. 行方不明になる Ellis says so.”
“For her own ends she says so, and you 行為／法令／行動する in the same way. She wants to marry George, and you want to marry me. It won’t do, Captain Sargent. Things are not to be settled in that fashion. You had better,” she laughed, “marry 行方不明になる Ellis yourself.”
“I love you; I want to marry you.”
“I am sorry,” said Lesbia sedately, “but I 拒絶する／低下する.”
“For your father’s sake,” 勧めるd Sargent weakly, angry, and looking more 危険に cunning than ever. “I can 害（を与える） him also. I can—” He saw from the startled 表現 on the girl’s 直面する that he was 説 too much, and 突然の turned on his heel. “I shall come for my answer to-morrow, Lesbia,” he called out, as he walked 速く に向かって the house.
The girl remained where she was, wondering what this new 脅し meant. She could understand how he could support her father and Maud in 害（を与える）ing George, but it was difficult to understand how he could 害（を与える） Mr. Hale.
In a flash the old 不安 （機の）カム over Lesbia, and she again pondered her father’s unaccountable secrecy, and 解任するd his shady 知識s. Then again, there was Canning, who was a gentleman and had been to school with Mr. Hale, only to degenerate into Sargent’s valet. It was all very singular and somewhat startling, and Lesbia puzzled over it hopelessly, until she was 誘発するd from a somewhat painful brown 熟考する／考慮する by a low whistle.
She looked up and around, to see a boat by the 上陸-行う／開催する／段階, and in the boat Mr. Canning, 明らかに more frail than ever. Sargent was also shadowy, and it 夜明けd upon Lesbia that the two might be 関係のある.
“Captain Sargent has just left me,” she said, running 負かす／撃墜する to the 上陸-行う／開催する／段階. “He 手配中の，お尋ね者 to marry me and I 辞退するd.”
“You were やめる 権利, 行方不明になる Hale. If you married Sargent, you would be 廃虚d for ever.”
“He 脅すd to 害（を与える） my father if I did not, and George also.”
Mr. Canning threw 支援する his 長，率いる and laughed silently. “He can do his best to 害（を与える） Walker by supporting 行方不明になる Ellis in her 嘘（をつく）, but it will take a much stronger man than Alfred to—” here he became aware that he had appeared unduly familiar with his late master’s 指名する.
“I thought so,” said Lesbia, 解任するing how like the two men were in looks and fragility; “you are 関係のある to Captain Sargent; you are his brother.”
“Yes,” said Mr. Canning, looking very pale. “Since you have guessed so cleverly I may 同様に 収容する／認める it. But I shall not tell you my story now. Later will be time enough. 一方／合間, say nothing to your father about having guessed that Alfred is my brother. How did you—”
“Oh,” said Lesbia smiling, “you are 正確に／まさに alike. Both pale and both slender, with the same cast of 直面する and the same colour of hair, and—oh, it’s wonderful!—I believe you are twins.”
Mr. Canning shirked this question. He （機の）カム 岸に and passed with Lesbia under the chestnut tree, behind the trunk, in fact, so that they might not be seen from the cottage windows.
“I have discovered the truth,” he said, in his usual whisper, “but at 現在の you must not ask me how I （機の）カム to learn it. But George Walker is innocent. Mr. Tait had the jewels stolen so as to get the 保険 money.”
Lesbia gasped with amazement. “Are you 確かな ?” she 需要・要求するd, and when he nodded, asked another question. “How did you learn so quickly?”
“That is a secret just now,” said Canning equably. “Remember that I 警告するd you before, that you must not ask that question. It is 十分な to say that I 設立する out how Mr. Tait insured these jewels for a large sum of money, and then 雇うd two clever London thieves to steal them. Tait will get the 保険 money, and he will also unset the jewels and sell them in India and America. Of course, the thieves will have to be paid for the 危険 they took, though it was not a 広大な／多数の／重要な one, as Tait left the gallery doors open, and gave them the 重要な which he had on his watch-chain to open the 安全な. If 行方不明になる Ellis had not come 負かす／撃墜する; if Walker had not followed, there would have been no スキャンダル.”
“Mr. Canning,” said Lesbia, after a moment’s thought, “did 行方不明になる Ellis know that this 強盗 was about to take place? From all that I have heard of her she is 深い in her uncle’s 信用／信任.”
“I cannot be sure if she is an 従犯者 before the fact,” replied Canning, speaking in 合法的な phraseology.
“But I can,” cried the girl, leaping to a 結論 with the intuitive certainty of a woman. “I see the whole 計画／陰謀. 行方不明になる Ellis knew that the jewels would be stolen somewhere about three o’clock in the morning, and so 任命するd that hour to 会合，会う George, and 巻き込む him in the 罪，犯罪. It was a carefully arranged 罠（にかける） into which he walked wholly unconsciously.”
“But her 推論する／理由?” asked Canning, somewhat perplexed.
Lesbia laughed. “You are a mere man, Mr. Canning, and cannot understand. It takes a woman to fathom the duplicity of another woman. 行方不明になる Ellis loved George, and as he would not marry her willingly, she 誘惑するd him into this 罠（にかける）, so as to—oh!” Lesbia broke off, clenching her little 握りこぶしs and stamping with 怒り／怒る. “But she shall not! she shall not! I shall see her and 反抗する her. And you, Mr. Canning—you?”
“I am returning to London, to hide,” said the man 静かに; “but I can come 負かす／撃墜する here when it is necessary. I shall send you my 演説（する）／住所 as soon as I arrange where to 隠す myself.”
“But why should you 隠す yourself?”
“That is too long a story to tell you at 現在の. It is enough for you to know that what I have discovered about Tait—what I have told you—is dangerous to me. No, 行方不明になる Hale, do not ask me その上の questions, for I dare not answer. I have jeopardised my liberty, and perhaps my life, by what I have done for you.”
“I do not understand,” said Lesbia, somewhat 脅すd.
“It is 同様に that you do not,” said Canning, sombrely. “Bluebeard’s 議会 is a dangerous room to look into. When it is necessary—if it ever is—you shall know what I am 隠すing now. 一方／合間, I shall go into hiding in London.”
“What am I to do?”
“See 行方不明になる Ellis,” 再結合させるd The 影をつくる／尾行する 敏速に. “Tell her what I have discovered, and give my 指名する as your 当局—that is, say how Captain Sargent’s servant looked into the 事柄. You can 抑える the fact of my 存在 a gentleman and Sargent’s brother. Tell 行方不明になる Ellis also that when the time comes I can 証明する that her uncle had the jewels stolen so as to get the 保険 money, in 新規加入 to the money from the sale of the jewels ーするために tide over a 財政上の 危機. Twenty thousand from the jewels and a like 量 from Lloyd’s,” ended Canning cynically, “will give Mr. Tait ample 基金s with which to retrieve his position. He was in danger of 破産, but this 罪，犯罪, engineered by himself, has saved his credit.”
“What wickedness!” murmured Lesbia, as Canning moved に向かって his boat.
“Oh, such doings are classed under the 長，率いる of 商売／仕事 by people like Tait. But I must get away before my brother or your father sees me;” and Canning 緩和するd the painter, slipped into the boat, and took the oars, not without an anxious ちらりと見ること at the cottage.
“Thank you for what you have done,” cried Lesbia softly, remaining, for obvious 推論する／理由s, behind the tree-trunk.
“Not at all. I have only repaid my 負債—that is, if such a 負債 can ever be paid. Au revoir, 行方不明になる Hale!” and raising his shabby cap with all the good 産む／飼育するing of a gentleman, Canning pulled away with an 平易な, clean 一打／打撃, which could only have been learned at a public school.
Captain Sargent was somewhat disheartened by Lesbia’s 安定した 対立 to his 支持を得ようと努めるing. He was not virile enough to take her heart by 嵐／襲撃する, and his usual 策略 did not seem to 後継する with this 冷静な／正味の, 静かな, observant girl, who looked at him so straight. Also his 脅しs of 害（を与える）ing George Walker and Mr. Hale 証明するd to be but blunt 武器s and could not 侵入する the 保護物，者 of Lesbia’s composure. Sargent 退却／保養地d from the field of 戦う／戦い 完全に beaten, and he must have 自白するd as much to Hale, for that gentleman took his daughter to 仕事 when she returned to the cottage after her secret interview with Canning. The 不成功の lover had already 出発／死d, and Lesbia listened for ten minutes to her father’s denunciations of what he was pleased to style her wickedness.
“You せねばならない be flattered that so rich and handsome a man loves you,” 激怒（する）d Mr. Hale, who for once in his life lost his self-支配（する）／統制する. “You seem to forget that if I died to-morrow—and I might as my heart is 影響する／感情d—you would be left penniless.”
Lesbia raised her eyebrows. “I understood you to say that you could leave me two thousand a year,” she 観察するd 静かに.
“If you marry as I wish,” cried her father furiously, “not さもなければ. Failing your becoming the wife of my dear friend, Sargent, I shall leave the money to Lord Charvington.”
“井戸／弁護士席,” said the girl cheerfully, “that would only be fair, since he has paid you a 年金 for so long.”
“What do you know about that?” snapped Hale, changing colour.
“Very little. But you certainly told me in an expansive moment that Lord Charvington, as your cousin, 許すd you a small income.”
“Precious small,” muttered Hale, not 否定するing.
“But why does he 許す you anything?” asked Lesbia, very 直接／まっすぐに, “with two thousand a year you cannot wish for his help.”
Hale took a turn up and 負かす／撃墜する the room, then stopped opposite to his daughter and spoke in quieter トンs, but 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく emphatic. “I am not enjoying two thousand a year at 現在の,” he 宣言するd slowly, “and so 受託する an annuity from Charvington, who, 存在 my cousin, has every 権利 to 補助装置 me.”
“I don’t see that,” murmured the girl, shrugging.
“It doesn’t 事柄 what you see, or what you don’t see,” cried Hale, his temper again getting beyond 支配（する）／統制する. “Do as you are told, or chance the consequences.”
“Be a pawn in fact,” she 再結合させるd ironically. “A pawn on your chess-board.”
Hale shrugged in his turn. “Put it how you like,” he retorted, “but obey.”
“Certainly not. I am a human 存在 and have the 権利 to—”
“You have the 権利 to do nothing,” broke in her father 猛烈に. “See here, my girl, you are making a 広大な／多数の／重要な mistake by not letting me guide you. Had you been open about that amethyst cross, I should never have 許すd you to give it to George Walker. Its 所有／入手 means more than you think. The two thousand a year depends upon its 生産／産物.”
“Oh!” Lesbia opened her 注目する，もくろむs 広範囲にわたって. “I see. Then you are willing that I should marry George if you get this two thousand.”
“Yes,” said Hale bluntly, “but for circumstances which do not 関心 you—I prefer that you should marry Sargent.”
“Marriage with anyone 関心s me a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定,” said Lesbia coolly, “and I 拒絶する／低下する to marry a man I do not love. As to the cross: it was my own 所有物／資産／財産 left to me by my mother, and if its 生産／産物 will bring me two thousand a year I am very sorry it is lost.”
“I did not say that it meant two thousand a year to you,” said Hale uneasily, and with a scowl.
“容赦 me, father. I assume that, since I am the owner of the cross. However, it is lost and neither I nor you know where to find it. That 存在 the 事例／患者 I 辞退する to marry Captain Sargent and shall marry George.”
“You have sent him away: you forget that.”
“I can bring him again to my feet.”
“Lesbia Lesbia! you are playing with 解雇する／砲火／射撃.”
“Probably, but I shall continue to play until you tell me the meaning of all these things.”
“I have told you about the cross—”
“やめる so,” interrupted the girl drily, “and I now know why George was 強襲，強姦d and his mother’s cottage robbed.”
“You dare to say that I am the 有罪の person,” 需要・要求するd her father suspiciously.
“Oh no. If you were, you would have the cross; and thus 存在 able to get the two thousand a year, you would not …に反対する my marriage with George. You are innocent!”
“Thank you for nothing,” sneered Hale coolly, “but you can reckon on this, Lesbia, that if I could have knocked 負かす／撃墜する George and have robbed him of the cross I should have done so.”
“That is candid, father.”
“You asked me to be candid. But, 持つ／拘留する your tongue, or else talk sense. You must marry Sargent. I shall not 許す you to throw yourself away on that どろぼう, and—”
“Stop!” cried Lesbia, rising indignantly, “you shall not call George 指名するs in my 審理，公聴会. He is no どろぼう.”
“Can you 証明する that?”
It was on the tip of the girl’s tongue to speak out and 告発する／非難する Tait. But she first 願望（する）d to see Maud Ellis ーするために 削減（する） her claws, and therefore, with a self-抑制 far beyond her years, she shook her 長，率いる.
Hale sneered again, “You are a silly romantic fool,” he scoffed, “and sooner or later I shall 軍隊 you to do my will.”
“Never! Never! Never!”
“Oh, very 井戸／弁護士席,” replied Hale, baffled by her obstinacy, “then I shall go to London and leave you here. I shall not speak to you, or eat with you, or have anything to do with you, until you obey me as a daughter should,” and turning on his heel, he 出発／死d in 冷淡な 怒り／怒る.
Hale duly kept his 約束 and went away leaving the girl to her own 装置s. But so clever a man should have known that the 罰—as he みなすd it—was no 罰 at all. He had never been a father to Lesbia in the 受託するd sense of the word, and she had but small affection for him. Alone with Tim, she was much happier than when in Mr. Hale’s 冷気／寒がらせるing presence, and preferred his room to his company. Also, he was really playing into her 手渡すs, as she wished to be alone ーするために see Maud and bring her to 推論する／理由. It was not Lesbia’s wish to call again at Henley, as she thought that she could 取引，協定 better with 行方不明になる Ellis when she was on her native ヒース／荒れ地. Therefore, now that Hale was out of the way, and she was 解放する／自由な to do what she 願望（する）d, she 始める，決める to work to concoct a 陰謀（を企てる）, whereby to bring Maud Ellis to the cottage at Marlow.
To this end she wrote a letter 明言する／公表するing that she and George were to be married すぐに, and that 行方不明になる Ellis’s 計画／陰謀 had failed. This artful epistle she 地位，任命するd to Henley, hoping that if 行方不明になる Ellis was in London it would be 今後d to her there. She felt 確かな —since, 存在 a woman, she knew woman’s nature better than a man could know it—that Maud would 捜し出す an interview and come to Rose Cottage. Of course there was the chance that Maud might first interview Walker, and then learn the falsity of the 声明. But in that 事例／患者, George would come to learn the truth, and then she could tell him what Canning had discovered. In fact, 借りがあるing to the skilful way in which Lesbia played her one trump card, she was 確かな to bring to the cottage either Maud Ellis or George Walker: and whichever （機の）カム, she was 用意が出来ている to を取り引きする the 状況／情勢. All the same, she hoped that Maud would be the one to put in an 外見, as if she could silence her, she could then call at the Medmenham cottage and explain to her lover the 推論する／理由 why she had 解任するd him. Accordingly, when the letter setting the 罠（にかける） was 地位，任命するd, Lesbia sat 負かす／撃墜する to think over the behaviour of Walker.
It puzzled her that he should so tamely 受託する his 解雇／（訴訟の）却下. On the 直面する of it she had 扱う／治療するd him cruelly, and had given no 推論する／理由 for 突然の breaking off the 約束／交戦. All the same, she considered, woman-like, that he should not have acquiesced too readily to her 提案 that they should never 会合，会う again. But she forgot that George was a proud man, and that the 単独の 推論する／理由 he could 割り当てる for her 解任するing him, was the fact that he was 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd of 強盗. If she believed him 有罪の—George, as she might have thought, would have argued in this way—and had not 十分な love to stand up for him, then she was not worthy of the worship he bestowed on her. But Lesbia did not think thus. She only knew that she had sent George to the 権利-about and that he had gone away without looking 支援する for a 選び出す／独身 moment. This was not as it should be, said the woman within her, and therefore she 内密に felt annoyed with Walker for his too ready obedience. It can therefore be seen that Lesbia Hale was intensely feminine. Perhaps on that account George loved her the more, since the 予期しない in woman is always what 誘惑するs the man.
However, think what she would, and argue as she might, the fact remained that Walker kept away from Rose Cottage and that she had not 十分な courage to 直面する her lover, when under the wing of his mother. Lesbia 行方不明になるd the golden days of 支持を得ようと努めるing dreadfully, and in their absence was anxious to carry on her counterplot, if only to fill in the time. Besides, there would be a かなりの 量 of 楽しみ in （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing 行方不明になる Ellis with her own 武器s. It was therefore a happy day to Lesbia that brought the stockbroker’s niece into the 罠（にかける）, as this time the biter was about to be bitten. And Lesbia, 存在 a woman and 取引，協定ing with a woman, 決定するd to show no mercy since Maud had shown 非，不，無. Besides, the two were fighting over a man, and so 逆戻りするd to the 倫理学 of 洞穴 life and pre-historic struggle.
Within four days of the 地位，任命するing of the letter, 行方不明になる Ellis arrived and was shown by Tim into the tiny 製図／抽選-room. It was empty, as Lesbia had seen her 競争相手 coming, and therefore had 出発／死d to change her frock. Also she hoped to make Maud lose her temper by 施行するd waiting, knowing that if she did, there would be いっそう少なく difficulty in 取引，協定ing with her. Unsophisticated as Lesbia was, she instinctively knew how to fight. Her 策略 were 訂正する, for when she entered spick and （期間が）わたる and smiling into the 製図／抽選-room, she 設立する Maud ガス／煙ing restlessly, and やめる ready to 選ぶ a quarrel on the 得点する／非難する／２０ of uncivil 治療.
“I have been kept waiting,” said 行方不明になる Ellis in a Louis XIV トン, and putting up a lorgnette to glare at her much too beautiful 競争相手.
“I am so sorry,” 答える／応じるd Lesbia politely. “But I was not dressed to receive anyone, and your visit is 予期しない.”
Maud laughed contemptuously. “You knew that I would come,” she 宣言するd with 有罪の判決. “You have been looking out for me every day.”
“You say so,” said Lesbia, still graciously, for since the last interview at Henley, she had changed her 策略 with 行方不明になる Ellis. “Will you not be seated? This 議長，司会を務める is most comfortable, it has its 支援する to the light.”
“I don’t need to sit with my 支援する to the light,” flashed Maud indignantly.
“Oh, I beg 容赦, but from that lorgnette I thought that your 注目する，もくろむs might be weak. Sit here then, in the 十分な warmth of the 日光.”
But 行方不明になる Ellis knew better than to let the searching light 明らかにする／漏らす her age too 明確に to her hostess. “I’ll sit here,” she 宣言するd 突然の, and （機の）カム to 残り／休憩（する） on the sofa.
“That’s 権利,” said Lesbia caressingly, “It’s a nice shady corner.”
Maud bit her lip, knowing perfectly 井戸／弁護士席 that Lesbia was casting a reflection on her age. But having taken the seat she could scarcely leave it without laying herself open to その上の pointed 発言／述べるs, so she remained where she was and （機の）カム to the 反対する of her visit at once. “What do you mean by 令状ing me this letter?” she 需要・要求するd, producing the epistle of her hostess.
“I mean to show you that your 陰謀（を企てる） to part George and myself has failed.”
行方不明になる Ellis 鎮圧するd up the letter savagely. “Has it,” she 問い合わせd, “seeing that you have broken your 約束／交戦?”
“How do you know that?”
“Mrs. Walker told me. And very glad she is I can tell you. Mrs. Walker is an old friend of my uncle’s and has known me for years. She wants George to marry me. She told me so only a few days ago.”
“As if it 事柄d what she said,” retorted Lesbia contemptuously.
“She is George’s mother.”
“No one 否定するs that.”
“And as he is her son, he should obey her.”
“Even when she wants him to marry a woman he cares nothing for.”
“George does care for me,” cried Maud, a 深い 紅潮／摘発する overspreading her 直面する even to the roots of her sandy hair. “I 収容する／認める that when he was engaged to you, he would not look at me. But now that you have thrown him over so cruelly, he has turned to me for なぐさみ.”
“I don’t believe it,” said Lesbia quickly.
“You must, you shall,” snapped 行方不明になる Ellis very much in earnest. “Look here, this sort of thing won’t do.”
“What sort of thing?”
“This 敵意 you have に向かって me. I don’t know why you are behaving so exasperatingly,” wailed Maud plaintively. “When you （機の）カム to Henley, it was the first time we met, and for your father’s sake I was anxious to make a friend of you. But you were so rude and so silly that I could not. But I am willing to make every allowance for your want of training, and so I have come here to ask you to be friends.”
“Oh, I don’t mind, 供給するd you will leave George alone.”
“I shan’t, so there. I love him.”
“So do I. And as he loves me I have the 事前の （人命などを）奪う，主張する.”
“But you have broken your 約束／交戦 and so have left the field open to me. Don’t be a dog in the manger.”
“I am not. I love George and I have always loved him. I sent the letter I did because of what my father told me. You 誘惑するd George into a 罠（にかける）, and—as you said yourself at Henley—you can get him 逮捕（する）d. Because of your 態度 I was compelled to 解任する him, or see him 廃虚d.”
行方不明になる Ellis put up her lorgnette with an 空気／公表する of 勝利. “You have 明言する／公表するd the 事例／患者 正確に, save for one 発言／述べる,” she 宣言するd. “I can 廃虚 George Walker, and I shall do so unless he marries me. But I did not 誘惑する him into a 罠（にかける）. I 単に took advantage of circumstances.”
“Which you knew 存在するd.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“What I say,” retorted Lesbia, keeping her 注目する，もくろむs on Maud’s 直面する. “You 任命するd that place and that hour of 会合 ーするために 巻き込む George in a 強盗 which you knew was about to take place.”
行方不明になる Ellis sprang to her feet with a white 直面する and trembling 手渡すs. “You go too far,” she said, in a 窒息させるing 発言する／表明する. “Why should I?—Why should I?—Oh,” she stamped, “your 発言／述べるs are 悪名高い.”
“They are true.”
“It’s a 嘘（をつく）! they are not true. I had no idea that my uncle’s strong-room was to be robbed of those jewels on that night and at that hour. If I had known I should have 妨げるd the 強盗.”
“Mr. Tait would not have thanked you for doing so,” replied Lesbia meaningly.
“Are you mad?” gasped Maud, and her 直面する became a dull brick-red.
“No,” answered Lesbia drily, “I am 単に 井戸／弁護士席-知らせるd.”
“知らせるd of what?” 行方不明になる Ellis moistened her 乾燥した，日照りの lips.
“That Mr. Tait 手配中の，お尋ね者 money to tide over a 財政上の 危機, and arranged to have the jewels stolen, so that he could sell them 内密に.”
“It’s a 嘘（をつく）—a 嘘（をつく）,” cried Maud again, and the perspiration broke out on her quivering 直面する; “my uncle is a 豊富な man: everyone knows that. If he 手配中の，お尋ね者 money he could have sold the jewels 率直に—they were his own.”
“You forget the 保険 at Lloyd’s.”
Maud dropped on to the sofa as though she had been 発射. “The 保険?”
“Yes. Mr. Tait insured those jewels for something like twenty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, and so had them stolen. Certainly he could have sold them 率直に, as you say, but then he would have got only half the money he 要求するs.”
“Half the money?” Maud gasped again, and suddenly looked 二塁打 her age.
“Of course, twenty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs. By insuring the jewels and by having them stolen, he will 伸び（る） the proceeds of the sale he has arranged with the thieves, besides the twenty thousand from the 保険.”
“You dare—to—告発する／非難する—my—oh,” Maud jumped up ひどく and stamped 怒って, “it is ridiculous; what proof have you of this absurd tale?”
“I have 絶対の proof,” said Lesbia 静かに and rising in her turn. “Mr. Canning—The 影をつくる／尾行する—who watched me here at my father’s request, 設立する out what I say and, if necessary, he can 証明する the truth of what he 設立する out. And he will, at my request, if you do not 約束 to leave George alone and 断言する that you will not 告発する／非難する him of a 罪，犯罪 of which—as you knew all the time—he is innocent.”
But Maud heard only half this speech. “Canning, The 影をつくる／尾行する,” she muttered, “do you mean Captain Sargent’s valet?”
“Yes. I nursed him through an illness, and he has shown his 感謝 to me by discovering your uncle’s 陰謀（を企てる）, and 証明するing your knowledge of it. I can 証明する what I say with Canning’s 援助, and I shall do so, unless you 約束 to do as I have asked you.”
Maud buttoned her jacket with trembling 手渡すs and moved に向かって the door あわてて. “You are talking rubbish,” she muttered in a 厚い 発言する／表明する. “I 辞退する to talk of the 事柄. It is too silly. But,” she 直面するd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, “I shall tell my uncle, and he shall have you put in gaol.”
“He will be in gaol himself,” retorted Lesbia “As soon as you leave this house, I shall arrange with Mr. Canning to go to the police and 明言する／公表する what he told me.”
“You would not dare.”
“Yes, I would, unless you 断言する not to 告発する／非難する George and 約束 to leave him to me. I said that before: I say so again, and for the last time.”
“It’s a—” Maud was about to say that it was a 嘘（をつく） for the third time, but the word died away on her lips. Whether Maud was cognizant of the 陰謀（を企てる） to steal the jewels Lesbia could not say, as she made no 発言／述べる on this point: but her very silence showed that she was in the 商売／仕事. Lesbia’s 態度 left her no 代案／選択肢 but to make 条件, since if she left the house, there was every danger that her uncle might be 逮捕（する）d. “If I do what you ask, will you 持つ／拘留する your tongue?” Maud 需要・要求するd faintly.
“Then you 収容する／認める that what I say is true?” 反対するd 行方不明になる Hale.
“No,” almost shouted 行方不明になる Ellis, “I do not. Still, mud sticks however wrongly thrown, and I do not want my uncle to 苦しむ through me. As to Canning, oh, my uncle will を取り引きする him I 約束 you. Not a word. I agree to all you ask. I must. I shall not 告発する／非難する George: I shall leave him to you and,” she leaned 今後 with a snarl, “I shall bring 悲惨 on you at the eleventh hour.”
“I 反抗する you,” retorted Lesbia with 軽蔑（する）.
“Very good.” Maud smiled in an evil way. “We shall see who 勝利，勝つs the dangerous game you are playing. I—” she broke off 突然の and left in haste.
The 会合 of the two girls who loved George seemed 運命にあるd to end 突然の. On the first occasion Lesbia had broken short the interview at Henley, and on the second Maud had 急いでd away from Rose Cottage. Lesbia wondered that she had not remained to talk その上の, and was rather anxious when she remembered that Maud had left with a 脅し on her lips. 行方不明になる Ellis was clever and cunning and 無謀な, and in one way or another might work mischief. Not that Lesbia saw any chance of her doing any, since she knew too much for Maud’s peace of mind. Without 疑問 what Canning had discovered was true, else Maud would not have 降伏するd so easily. Lesbia thought until she was 疲れた／うんざりした about the 事柄, and 特に how Canning could have discovered the truth so speedily. She would have asked him point-blank in spite of his 禁止, but that he was in London. And as yet he had not written to tell where he was hiding.
However, as things stood, there was no 疑問 that Maud would keep her 約束, and that George was 安全な. On the day after the stockbroker’s niece had paid her visit, Lesbia wrote a long letter to Walker, and 詳細（に述べる）d all that Canning had discovered and also narrated its 影響 on Maud Ellis. その上の, she gave George to understand how she had been compelled to 令状 the letter of 解雇／（訴訟の）却下, and ended up with a fond wish that her lover should come and see her at once. When this letter was 地位，任命するd Lesbia began to dream of Walker’s 迅速な return, and haunted the garden ーするために see his boat coming 速く 負かす／撃墜する the river.
But the boat never （機の）カム, nor did any letter from George. Day after day Lesbia watched the stream: watched also the postman, but in every 事例／患者 she was disappointed. Walker must have received the letter, else it would have been returned through the Dead Letter Office, so it was strange, seeing how she had explained 事柄s, that he did not appear. Or at least he might have written. The girl 疲れた／うんざりしたing for love grew 頂点（に達する）d and 病弱な, much to the 苦しめる of Tim, who could not understand. Finally, Lesbia told him the whole story, and sent him over to the cottage at Medmenham to see if Walker had received the letter. Tim returned somewhat downcast.
“Masther Garge has been in London these six days,” said Tim, “and the misthress—his blissid mother, towld me she’d sint the letter to him. He’s got it, me dear, but the divil knows why he doesn’t 令状 ye the scratch av a pen. Augh, me dear, nivir trouble him again. Sure there’s more fish in the say nor ivir come out av that same.”
“George is the only man in the world for me,” said Lesbia 堅固に, although the 涙／ほころびs were in her 注目する，もくろむs, “and I’ll never give him up, until I hear him say that he loves another. This is 行方不明になる Ellis’s work.”
“Och 殺人, me dear, it’s a baste she is entoirely. But from what ye towld me, 行方不明になる, ye drew the teeth av her.”
“She went away with a 脅し,” sighed Lesbia dismally. “She can’t 軍隊 my George to marry her now; but evidently she can 妨げる his returning to me as I want him to. Oh Tim, what am I to do now?”
“See Masther Garge and ask him plain, 行方不明になる.”
“But I have not the money to go to London, and besides, I do not know where George is stopping,” 抗議するd Lesbia, wringing her 手渡すs.
“See his ould mother, the saints be good to her! for an iceberg she is,” 示唆するd Tim after a pause. “Sure she’ll tell ye where he is, me dear.”
“No, Tim, no. Mrs. Walker hates my father, and would rather die than see her son become my husband.”
“Hates the masther, is ut?” muttered the crooked little man frowning. “And if so, me darlin’ heart, why shud she come to see him?”
“Come to see him,” echoed Lesbia 星／主役にするing, “why Mrs. Walker has never been here to see my father in her life. I understood from George that she hated my father. In that 事例／患者 she will never come here. If she did come,” sighed Lesbia, “I might 軟化する her heart so that she might be on my 味方する. I am sure I could 勝利，勝つ her over.”
“井戸／弁護士席, 行方不明になる Lesbia, ye can but try, for the ould woman is coming here to-morrow afternoon to see the masther.”
“But he’s away, Tim.”
“Sure, 行方不明になる, he sint me the scratch av a pin sayin’ he was coming 支援する this very day. I towld the ould woman, whin she axed me, so she’s coming to have a talk wid him. An’ the divil will make a third wid them two,” muttered Tim crossing himself, “saints kape us from 害（を与える）!”
Lesbia was much astonished at this news, as Mrs. Walker had never been to Rose Cottage before, and moreover—on the word of her son—she both despised and hated Mr. Hale. The girl wondered if the visit had anything to do with the letter she had lately written to George. Perhaps Maud’s 脅し had meant that she would enlist Mrs. Walker on her 味方する to stop the marriage, since Maud herself, for obvious 推論する／理由s, was 権力のない to do so. But then, in any 事例／患者, Mrs. Walker disapproved of the marriage, so there was no need for Maud to 干渉する. Also, if the letter had been 今後d to George in London—and Lesbia saw no 推論する／理由 why it should not have been 今後d—he must have received the same. If so, why did he not reply, seeing that she had 完全に exonerated herself, and was anxious to 新たにする the 約束／交戦 which for George’s own sake she had been 軍隊d to break? Poor Lesbia thought over these questions until she was 疲れた／うんざりした and her 長，率いる ached, but she could find no reply. The only thing to be done, was to wait until the formidable Mrs. Walker arrived: then a few minutes’ conversation with her might 明らかにする／漏らす the 推論する／理由 of George’s strange behaviour.
Mr. Hale duly returned, and seemed even angrier and more sullen than he had been before he went away. He scarcely spoke to his daughter, and several times he looked at her with 肯定的な dread in his usually 冷淡な 注目する，もくろむs. It appeared as though he considered Lesbia as a careless child with a box of matches, who might at any moment 始める，決める the house on 解雇する／砲火／射撃. Lesbia had a feeling that he was terribly angry with her, and yet that this 怒り／怒る was mixed with a 確かな 量 of dread. However, he contented himself with looking daggers, and to 避ける その上の 騒動s, she did not ask him any questions. But the house was very uncomfortable. Then at breakfast next morning, on the day when Mrs. Walker was 推定する／予想するd, Hale surprised the girl by 発表するing an 招待.
“I saw Lord Charvington when I was in town,” said Hale, keeping his pale 注目する，もくろむs on his plate. “For some 推論する／理由 he chose to remember your 存在.”
Lesbia gasped, and wondered if Charvington had told her father of the money she had borrowed. In that 事例／患者 Hale would question her as to the use she had made of it, and then her counterplot with Canning would come to light with 悲惨な results. But Hale’s その上の conversation made it plain that Charvington had said nothing about the 貸付金.
“He asked how you were,” 追求するd Hale softly, and still keeping his 注目する，もくろむs on his plate, “and if you had grown up a pretty girl. He hasn’t seen you for a long time, remember. Considering how 不正に you have behaved, Lesbia, I spoke better of you than you deserved, so Charvington—準備する yourself for a surprise—has asked you to stop at his country-house. He told me that his wife would send you the 招待.”
“It is very good of him,” said Lesbia faintly. “But I really do not want to go, father.”
Hale looked up with a scowl. “Always 対立,” he 不平（をいう）d, “you shall go, child. If you won’t marry Sargent, there will be a chance of your making a good match when under Lady Charvington’s wing. She has daughters of her own, too, so you will have a very good time.”
“Why should Lord Charvington ask me?”
“I can’t say. . . . He suddenly seems to have remembered your 存在. Of course, as my daughter you are 関係のある to him. However, the chance of a visit at such a country house is a very good one for you, so get ready to start when the 招待 comes. Do you want any frocks, or—”
“No. I have everything,” said Lesbia, rising; “after all perhaps the change will do me good, and I should like to see a little of the world.”
“You will see plenty of it with Charvington and his wife. They are a gay couple, and entertain 大部分は. They are at their country seat 近づく Maidenhead for a week; but if you play your cards 井戸／弁護士席 Lady Charvington may take you to London for the 残り／休憩（する） of the season.”
Lesbia nodded and went into the garden. Here she sat on the （法廷の）裁判 under the chestnut, and thought over the glittering prospect which was now open to her. She loved George and was contented with the 静かな life, 供給するd he 株d it with her. But as he was absent and was behaving so very strangely, she thought that it would be best to 急落（する），激減（する） into society if only to forget her aching heart. And if George would not marry her, it might be that she would 会合，会う with some other man, who would take her away from the uncomfortable life with her father. In her own heart Lesbia knew that she could love no one but George Walker. Still she could not 軍隊 him to marry her, and he appeared to have 受託するd her letter of 解雇／（訴訟の）却下 as final in spite of the second epistle 明言する／公表するing why she wrote the first. The poor girl felt very sad and very lonely, and her 涙／ほころびs rained 負かす／撃墜する, salt and bitter, as she sat a 独房監禁 人物／姿／数字 under the glorious tree. The blackbird was 麻薬を吸うing again, as he had done when George 提案するd; but it seemed to her ears that the song was now sad. But that probably was mere fancy.
At one o’clock Lesbia returned to the cottage, wondering why all these troubles had come upon her. It really seemed as though Tim’s idea about the bad luck of the cross was true, for ever since she had bestowed it on her lover there had been nothing but 悲しみ and mystery. Even George had not escaped misfortune, since he had been 強襲，強姦d and robbed, and had lost his 状況／情勢 through 存在 （刑事）被告 不正に of a 罪，犯罪 he had never committed. But Lesbia was a reader of fairy tales, and remembered that the prince and princess always have much grief before peace and joy arrive, so she hoped that in some way—she could not see how—the bad luck which was upon her and George would pass away leaving them married and rich and happy. But, at 現在の, it must be 自白するd that there did not appear to be much chance of such good fortune.
“The ould woman has come this very minit,” whispered Tim, 会合 the girl at the 支援する door. “I’ve put her in the parlour, but the masther is out.”
“My father is 確かな to come into 昼食,” said Lesbia hurriedly.
“Av coorse he is,” muttered Tim, “a mighty dainty man he is fur the inside av him. But she’s axing for you, 行方不明になる, and—”
“I’ll go to her,” interrupted Lesbia, “一方／合間, Tim, lay another place at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. I daresay Mrs. Walker is hungry.”
With these 指示／教授／教育s Lesbia sought the small parlour, and entered to find it 占領するd by a modern Lady Macbeth. Mrs. Walker 着せる／賦与するd in rich but funereal-looking 衣料品s of the deepest 黒人／ボイコット was seated majestically on the sofa. Without rising she raised a pair of piercing 注目する，もくろむs to look at the girl, and a 簡潔な／要約する 表現 of surprise flitted across her impassive 直面する. She had scarcely 推定する／予想するd to find the girl so beautiful, as she had always taken her son’s enthusiastic descriptions with a 穀物 of salt. However, she 個人として 認める that George was 権利 for once and she 迎える／歓迎するd the girl with stiff 親切. And indeed it was hard even for a lady of Mrs. Walker’s hard nature to be angry with Lesbia, who looked such a child, and who behaved so sweetly.
“I am very glad to see you,” said Mrs. Walker, looking anxiously into the girl’s delicate 直面する. “You remind me of someone who—no, I can’t 解任する of whom you remind me. Still—” she searched anxiously—“you are very like someone I knew.”
“Perhaps my mother,” Lesbia 投機・賭けるd to 発言／述べる. “My late nurse, Bridget Burke, told me I closely 似ているd my mother.”
“I never met your mother,” said Mrs. Walker, dropping Lesbia’s 手渡す quickly and becoming stiffer than ever. “Your father and I were never friends, my dear. I should not be here to-day, save that I have come to ask him about some 商売／仕事 connected with money I 推定する／予想する to 相続する. Also,” 追加するd Mrs. Walker 突然に, “I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to see you. George had talked much of you, my child, and seems to have loved you 大いに. I can’t 非難する him, and the wonder is that he should give you up.”
Lesbia clasped her small 手渡すs and sank into a 議長，司会を務める, her 直面する white and her 注目する，もくろむs 広範囲にわたって open. “George has never given me up,” she said faintly. “I wrote and told him why I was 軍隊d to send him the first letter, and—”
“Yes, yes!” Mrs. Walker waved a beautifully-gloved 手渡す. “I was in London the other day—in fact I took your letter to George. He showed it to me and told me everything.”
“And what did you say?”
Mrs. Walker’s 深い, 黒人／ボイコット brows drew together. “Of course the whole thing is rubbish,” she said 厳しく, “and only a love-sick girl like Maud Ellis would 行為／法令／行動する in that way. I suppose much must be forgiven her, as she really loves my son. But after her behaviour, I shall never 同意 to her marrying him. No! no! That would never do. 特に, now that we know her uncle is such a rogue. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 George to tell the police, but he 辞退するd.”
Lesbia cared very little for the 運命／宿命 of Tait. What she much 願望（する）d to know was her own. “You said that George has 中止するd to care for me,” she 発言／述べるd with a pale smile. “I don’t understand.”
Mrs. Walker gave her a pitying look. “Nor do I, now that I have seen you, my dear. I don’t like your father—I never did, and I would rather have died than have seen George marrying his daughter. Your looks and nature have made me change my mind. There is nothing of your father about you. Had I seen you before—” Mrs. Walker broke off and shook her stately 長，率いる, “but it is too late. George will not 新たにする the 約束／交戦.”
“Oh, I can’t believe that,” cried the girl weeping and trembling.
“Strange,” muttered the 年上の woman, “you have been やめる a ヘロイン in （疑いを）晴らすing George’s character, for which I am 大いに 強いるd to you. Yet here you are crying like a schoolgirl.”
“I love him so much: I love him so 深く，強烈に.”
“My poor child, it is the 運命／宿命 of women to have their hearts broken. I do not know why George still 辞退するs to 新たにする the 約束／交戦 in the 直面する of your letter, but he does. Here,” Mrs. Walker took an envelope out of her 捕らえる、獲得する and 手渡すd it to the shaking girl, “you can read his 決定／判定勝ち（する） in his own handwriting. He asked me to give you this.”
With 広大な／多数の／重要な delicacy she turned away her 長，率いる, while Lesbia tore open the envelope with shaking 手渡すs. There were only a few lines, but these intimated plainly that George had 受託するd his 解雇／（訴訟の）却下, and would not 捜し出す to 新たにする the 約束／交戦. “I love you still, my dearest,” wrote Walker in 結論, “but 運命／宿命 wills that we must part for ever.” Then there were a few tender words, and the epistle ended 突然の, as though the writer could not 信用 his emotions. Lesbia read the lines, 倍のd the letter and 取って代わるd it in the envelope which she put into her pocket. Her 注目する，もくろむs were 乾燥した，日照りの now, and her white 直面する was 紅潮／摘発するd with colour. With a 深い sigh she touched the 年上の woman on the shoulder, “I understand,” she said calmly.
Mrs. Walker, whose sympathies—remarkably in so 冷淡な a woman—were now 完全に with Lesbia, grew snappy to 隠す her emotion. “I don’t,” she said acidly, “and when George returns to Medmenham I shall have an explanation with him. He’s a fool.”
“No,” said Lesbia, her 直面する growing even a deeper red. “Can’t you see that George is only 事実上の／代理 in this way to save me?”
“To save you from what?” asked Mrs. Walker すぐに.
“I don’t know. I can’t say,” Lesbia spoke more to herself than to her 訪問者. “But I feel sure that George wrote this letter as I wrote my first one to him. I wrote to save him, and now he 辞退するs to 新たにする our 約束／交戦 to save me. I don’t understand, still—oh I am sure that everything will come 権利. I 信用 in God.”
“You do 井戸／弁護士席 to do so,” said Mrs. Walker 厳粛に, “for only He can help you, my child. I am 完全に puzzled, and know not what to say.”
“Say nothing: do nothing,” cried Lesbia 熱望して. “Things will work out to a happy end in their 予定 time.”
“You are sure of that?”
“I am 確かな .”
“Then,” said Mrs. Walker grimly, “you must have a sixth sense which I do not 所有する. However, I am glad that you have not given way to hysteria. You are a 勇敢に立ち向かう girl, and I would rather have you for my daughter-in-法律 than I would any one else, in spite of your father. There,” Mrs. Walker bent 今後 and 現実に kissed the girl’s lips. “That shows I mean what I say.”
“Oh!” Lesbia returned the kiss, blushing divinely, “George said that you hated me, and—”
“How could I hate a girl I had never seen?” snapped Mrs. Walker, ashamed of her momentary humanity. “I hate your father, and—井戸／弁護士席 there, say no more about the 事柄. I hope with all my heart that things will turn out 井戸／弁護士席 for you and George, as you appear to think they will. 一方／合間 while we are waiting for your father, tell me about the amethyst cross.”
Lesbia started to her feet in astonishment. “The cross,” she echoed. “I have lost it. You know that I gave it to—”
“Yes! Yes!” Mrs. Walker waved her 手渡す impatiently. “I know about the 強盗 and how no one can find the cross. It must be 設立する, にもかかわらず. But I wish to learn 正確に／まさに how it （機の）カム into your 所有／入手. George told me something about the 事柄, but like a man he told it very 不正に. For this 推論する／理由 I have come to see you, 同様に as Mr. Hale, whom I detest,” 追加するd Mrs. Walker 厳しく. “Where did you get the cross?”
“From my mother. That is, the cross belonged to her. She left it to my nurse Bridget Burke—”
“Where is she?”
“Dead. She died some time ago.”
“Unlucky,” muttered Mrs. Walker with a dark look. “井戸／弁護士席?”
“My mother told Bridget to give it to me, and to tell me that I was never to part with it save to the man I loved. Then you know”—Lesbia blushed again—“I gave it to George.”
“Yes. I know of that and of the loss. I said so before. But how did the cross come into your mother’s 所有／入手?”
Lesbia shook her 長，率いる. “I really cannot tell you.”
Mrs. Walker frowned again, and turned her steely 注目する，もくろむs に向かって the door. Her quick ears had caught a soft foot-落ちる, and her quick 注目する，もくろむs had seen the half-open door move. “Come in, Mr. Hale,” she said loudly, “we are 説 nothing which you cannot hear.”
Hale, who 明らかに had been listening, entered, looking perfectly 冷静な／正味の and composed. “The cross did not belong to Lesbia’s mother,” he said 静かに, but the look in his 注目する，もくろむs as they 残り／休憩（する）d on Mrs. Walker was not pleasant.
Lesbia uttered an exclamation when she heard the astonishing 発言／述べる of her father, and started to her feet. But Mrs. Walker, grimly silent, kept her seat and glared, like Medusa, on the newcomer. If she could have turned him into 石／投石する she would willingly have done so, as could be seen from the 表現 of her hard 注目する，もくろむs. Hale, perfectly 冷静な／正味の, in spite of the 侮辱ing speech which she made, took a 議長，司会を務める and looked at her with 審議する／熟考する insolence. Also deliberately he 逆戻りするd to her 侮辱.
“I was just passing along to the dining-room,” he explained slowly, “when I heard 発言する／表明するs and your last question. I entered at once and was not eavesdropping, as you are pleased to say.”
“There is no need to excuse yourself,” said Mrs. Walker tartly, “for—”
Hale crossed his 脚s and leaned 支援する. “In my own house I think not.”
“For I don’t believe a word you say,” she finished 厳しく.
“自然に you would not,” 再結合させるd Mr. Hale 滑らかに; “you were always a hard and 怪しげな woman.”
Mrs. Walker moved her 手渡すs restlessly, and her 注目する，もくろむs gleamed fiercer than ever. “You know better than that,” she muttered. “Take your mind 支援する thirty years.”
“Willingly,” said Hale, with 広大な／多数の／重要な promptness. “Do you wish us to speak of the past in Lesbia’s presence?”
This time he 得点する／非難する／２０d, for Mrs. Walker winced. “There is no need for the child to hear old stories,” she 発言／述べるd, with 抑えるd passion. “Let us discuss what I have come to see you about.”
“The cross?”
“Oh,” she flashed scornfully, “I thought you were not eavesdropping?”
“I 認める that I heard your last question,” said Hale, with a shrug, “but you never would listen.”
“I am listening now. Say what you have to say.”
“I have said all that I ーするつもりである to say, Mrs. Walker. The amethyst cross did not belong to Lesbia’s mother.”
The girl uttered another exclamation; she was lost in astonishment. “But, father,” she remonstrated, “Bridget told me on her death-bed—”
“What she told you was what I 教えるd her to say,” interrupted Hale imperiously. “But your mother—my wife—never 所有するd such an ornament.”
Lesbia looked at him doubtfully. Of late, she had 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that her father was not above telling a falsehood to serve his own 私的な ends, and in the 直面する of what she knew, it appeared as though he was telling one now—why, she could not conjecture. While she was trying to puzzle out the 推論する／理由, Mrs. Walker rose and swept across to the window of the 製図／抽選-room which looked out into the road. “I don’t see him yet,” she muttered to herself, and 協議するd a bracelet-watch 大（公）使館員d to her left wrist.
“Are you 推定する／予想するing anyone?” asked Hale politely.
“Mr. Jabez, my family lawyer,” she replied curtly, and returned to her seat.
Hale raised his eyebrows and looked more gentlemanly than ever; also a trifle dangerous. “You asked him to my house?”
“Yes, because I want to hear all about the cross. Oh, I know 井戸／弁護士席 that you do not wish to see Mr. Jabez, Walter, but—”
“You call me Walter,” said Hale, and suddenly 紅潮／摘発するd.
“A slip of the tongue,” retorted Mrs. Walker, also growing red. “The time is long past when I could call you so. You are Mr. Hale to me.”
“Then why not call me so?” 需要・要求するd the man coolly.
“I will do so in 未来,” said Mrs. Walker, and bit her lip in silent 激怒（する） at having given him an 適切な時期 of 得点する／非難する／２０ing. “But I know that Mr. Jabez is too 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd with the seamy 味方する of your life for you to care about 会合 him.”
Hale shrugged his shoulders. “He was my family lawyer as he is yours,” he answered in icy トンs, “and one 自白するs much to one’s lawyer, which one would hesitate to say to others. I can depend upon the secrecy of Jabez as to my misfortunes.”
“Oh!” Mrs. Walker laughed scornfully, “you call them by that 指名する.”
“It 控訴s them best. As to Jabez, I have no hesitation in 会合 him. But I prefer to choose my own 訪問者s.”
“You certainly would not choose Mr. Jabez,” said the 年上の woman insultingly. “However, I have taken advantage of your 平易な-going nature”—she was very sarcastic—“to 招待する Mr. Jabez to 会合，会う me here, so that we may discuss the どの辺に of the cross.”
“How can we discuss what we cannot and do not know?” asked Hale, with a contemptuous look. “You are still the same woman, Judith, headstrong and—”
“Don’t call me that 指名する!” she said はっきりと.
“A slip of the tongue 単に, such as you made just now,” sneered Hale; “but all this is very unpleasant for Lesbia. Don’t you think that while we quarrel she had better leave the room?”
Mrs. Walker drew Lesbia 負かす／撃墜する on to the sofa beside her, and 保持するd the girl’s 手渡す within her own. “No,” she said 厳しく, “I am not going to quarrel with you, Mr. Hale. Besides, I wish Lesbia to be here, so that she may hear somewhat of the past.”
“Why should she?” asked Hale あわてて.
“I want her to marry George.”
“You—want—her—to—marry—George,” repeated Hale astonished, “my daughter!”
Mrs. Walker looked at him straight. “You may 井戸／弁護士席 be surprised,” she said 静かに, “特に as you know through my son that I was 始める，決める against this marriage, and with good 推論する／理由 let me remind you, Mr. Hale. But now that I have seen Lesbia”—she drew the girl closer—“I see no 推論する／理由 why the sins of the father should be visited upon the child. Lesbia shall be my dear daughter, and I welcome her with joy.”
“I have something to say to that. She shall never be your daughter-in-法律, since it is better to be explicit as to 関係.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“やめる so. You are a clever woman, Judith, but I am also a clever man.”
“Oh!” Mrs. Walker winced again at his using her Christian 指名する. “We had better not begin about your 質s. Lesbia would certainly have to leave the room then.”
“Don’t shame me in the presence of my child, madam,” said Hale thickly, and the veins on his forehead began to swell with 怒り／怒る.
“I beg your 容赦,” said Mrs. Walker with a careless laugh, “I forgot how you have deceived her into thinking you an angel.”
Hale suddenly rose, and walked to the window. He was in a furious 激怒（する） and was trying to keep himself 冷静な／正味の, since he knew that any loss of temper would give Mrs. Walker an advantage which he did not ーするつもりである her to 伸び（る）. She sat 静かに smoothing Lesbia’s 手渡す, with glittering 注目する，もくろむs やめる ready to continue 敵意s as soon as her enemy 回復するd his breath. Lesbia herself remained passive, wondering what all the trouble was about. Neither the one nor the other of the disputants hinted 十分な to enlighten her as to the 推論する／理由s why they were at 敵意. Hale certainly might have said something more to the point, as he was 速く losing 支配（する）／統制する of his temper, but as he turned from the window, there （機の）カム a （犯罪の）一味 at the 前線 door of the cottage. “Here is Jabez,” said Hale, coming 支援する to his seat. “I am glad he has arrived, if only to stop your tongue.”
“Oh, Jabez knows all that I can say,” 発言／述べるd Mrs. Walker grimly, and became silent.
With wide-open 注目する，もくろむs, Lesbia sat waiting 静かに to see what would happen next. This duel of three—as it appeared to be, was as fantastic as that in which Mr. Midshipman 平易な fought. Moreover, the girl was so bewildered by the hints dropped of a 不一致 between Mrs. Walker and her father, of which she knew nothing, that she was trying hard to collect her scattered senses ーするために take in 未来 events more 明確に.
Mr. Jabez 発表するd his presence in the passage by a 乾燥した，日照りの, hard cough before he was introduced to the company by Tim Burke. He was a meagre man of medium 高さ with a bald 長，率いる, a hatchet 直面する, a pair of 注目する，もくろむs the colour of which could not be seen because of blue spectacles, and a loose 人物／姿／数字 投資するd in 井戸／弁護士席-fitting dark 着せる／賦与するs. He looked somewhat like a 確かな type of American, but when he opened his mouth, he spoke very 正確な English. For the 残り／休憩（する）, he seemed unemotional and very much （麻薬）常用者d to 乾燥した，日照りの 商売／仕事 詳細（に述べる）s. No one could have called Mr. Jabez an 利益／興味ing person, but he appeared to know his 商売／仕事 and the value of his time, upon which he placed a high price.
“Good-day! Good-day! Good-day!” he said severally to the three people in the room with a little nod to each. “Mr. Hale, I apologise for calling uninvited at your cottage, but Mrs. Walker, who wished for the 会合 here, must make my excuses. This is your daughter: a very handsome young lady. I shall take this 議長，司会を務める, with my 支援する to the light, as my 注目する，もくろむs are somewhat weak. For that 推論する／理由 I wear blue spectacles. Now,” Mr. Jabez had 伸び（る）d 所有／入手 of a comfortable 議長，司会を務める by this time, “let us come to 商売／仕事, as I have to return to London within the hour, Mrs. Walker!”
Thus 演説（する）／住所d Mrs. Walker, as grim as Jabez himself, and as impatient of wasting time, spoke to the point. “I asked you here, Mr. Jabez, to 会合，会う Mr. Hale with whom,” she 追加するd venomously, “we are both exceedingly 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd.”
“やめる so—やめる so,” interrupted the lawyer with his 乾燥した，日照りの cough, “but it would be 同様に to 避ける personal 発言／述べるs. They do no good and （問題を）取り上げる 価値のある time. Go on, Mrs. Walker.”
“I want to hear what Mr. Hale has to say about the amethyst cross,” said the 未亡人 with a dark look at her enemy.
“I have nothing to say about it,” retorted Hale, nursing his chin with his 手渡す and leaning 支援する with crossed 脚s, 明らかに indifferent.
“容赦 me, but you have much to say,” 発言／述べるd Jabez 正確に. “So far I 単に know on the 当局 of Mrs. Walker—that the cross was given to this young lady,” he nodded very curtly に向かって Lesbia, “and that in her turn she passed it to Mr. George Walker.”
“That is true,” 認める Lesbia, seeing that she was called upon to speak. “I was told by Bridget—”
“Who is Bridget?” interrupted Jabez 熱心に.
“My late nurse. She is dead.”
Jabez shook his bald 長，率いる. “T’cht! T’cht! T’cht! That is a pity. Go on.”
“Bridget told me that I was to give the cross only to the man I loved. I therefore gave it to George. He was 強襲，強姦d for it on the 牽引するing-path and as it could not be 設立する upon him, his room at Medmenham was robbed.”
Jabez nodded. “Mrs. Walker told me all this,” he said 静かに, “and the cross has never been 設立する.”
“No,” said Mrs. Walker.
“No,” said Mr. Hale.
“No!” said Lesbia.
“All are agreed,” smiled the lawyer drily, “a most 全員一致の opinion. I understand,” he 演説（する）／住所d Lesbia again, “that your mother 初めは owned this cross and gave it to your nurse. Mrs. Walker, on the 当局 of her son, told me as much.”
“I understood that the cross had belonged to my mother,” replied Lesbia, nervously ちらりと見ることing at her father. “Bridget told me so, when she gave it to me on her death-bed.”
“Then she told you wrongly,” said Mr. Hale, “and at my request.”
“Why?” 需要・要求するd Jabez, turning に向かって his unwilling host.
“Because the cross belonged to another woman, and I did not want that known in 事例／患者 someone should （人命などを）奪う，主張する it.”
“Ha!” said Mrs. Walker darkly. “And why did you wish to keep it?”
“I—I—liked the ornament,” 自白するd Hale hesitating, and やめる forgetting the sentimental 推論する／理由 he had given to his daughter as to the 願望（する） to keep the cross because it had been the 所有物／資産／財産 of his late wife.
Mrs. Walker laughed scornfully. “I believe you know the 推論する／理由 why the cross is so 価値のある,” she snapped.
“Yes, he does,” chimed in Lesbia, who was 決定するd to learn the 推論する／理由 of all this mystery. “He says that if produced it will bring him two thousand a year.”
“Lesbia!” Hale jumped to his feet and looked furious. “How dare you?”
“How dare I?” she cried, rising in her turn. “Because you will not 信用 me, father, and I am in the dark. The cross is 地雷, and I have a 権利 to know all that 関心s it. Does the 生産／産物 of the cross mean 伸び（る） to my father of two thousand a year?” she asked the lawyer.
“It means that if a 確かな person produces the cross to me,” explained Mr. Jabez, “fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs will—”
“Let me explain,” interrupted Mrs. Walker はっきりと. “Lesbia, the cross is needed to 証明する the 身元 of my sister Kate. My father left her the sum of fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs. She eloped with a man of whom he disapproved, and has not appeared to （人命などを）奪う，主張する the money. We don’t know if she is living or dead, and—”
“Ah!” broke in Hale, “this is what George told me.”
“Yes,” flashed out Mrs. Walker, turning に向かって him, “and for that 推論する／理由 you know the value of the cross.”
“Oh,” Hale shrugged his shoulders, “I knew that long ago.”
“Then why did you not produce it?”
“Because I thought it was lost. If the cross belonged to your sister Kate, Mrs. Walker, I knew her.”
“She was not your wife,” cried Mrs. Walker savagely, “You were not the man she ran away with.”
“I never said that I was,” 再結合させるd Hale coolly. “No. Hear what I have to say. When I was living at Wimbledon with my wife—Lesbia’s mother—we one day 設立する a woman unconscious in the snow. My wife, who was a Good Samaritan, 生き返らせるd her and took her in. She died, but before 製図／抽選 her last breath, she told me that she was Katherine Morse—”
“That was my sister’s maiden 指名する. But she married the man she ran away with.”
“She never told me so,” said Hale coolly. “She died in my wife’s 武器 and is buried in Wimbledon 共同墓地. The cross—as I heard from my wife on her death-bed—she gave to my wife 説 that if produced to Mr. Simon Jabez it would be 価値（がある） fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs. My wife gave the cross to Bridget and did not tell me so. When she died I 追跡（する）d for the cross and could not find it. But that old hag of an Irishwoman 所有するd it and held her peace. On her death-bed she gave it to Lesbia and told her not to tell me about it. I only became aware of its どの辺に when I saw it in your son’s 手渡す after he had 提案するd to Lesbia. Then it was lost again and I don’t know who has it.”
“What a strange story!” said Lesbia, “why did you not tell me before, father?”
Hale turned on her viciously. “You were secret with me about the cross, so what occasion was there to tell you? Had you been open I would have had that fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs long ago.”
“No,” said Jabez, who had been listening attentively, “you were not married to 行方不明になる Katherine Morse, and so had no （人命などを）奪う，主張する to the money.”
“I （人命などを）奪う，主張する it,” cried Mrs. Walker triumphantly, “all I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know was whether my sister Kate was dead. Now you have sworn to that, and now that we know she is buried in Wimbledon 共同墓地, I get the money.”
“No,” said Jabez again and very drily.
Mrs. Walker rose and turned on him 怒って. “You know my father’s will,” she cried 怒って. “One hundred thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs was left 平等に between myself and my sister. I had my 株 and my husband spent it. Kate never （機の）カム to （人命などを）奪う，主張する her half, so by the will it 逆戻りするs to the 生存者 of Samuel Morse’s daughters. I am the 生存者 so—”
“You go too 急速な／放蕩な, my dear lady,” said the lawyer, “and do not know the will so 完全に as I do. Fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, which I 持つ／拘留する, was left to Katherine and her 相続人s. There may be a child or children.”
“Kate Morse had no child when she died in my house,” said Hale はっきりと. “I can 証明する it.” He went to the door and called out, “Tim.”
In a few minutes, and まっただ中に a dead silence, the crooked little man appeared rubbing his red 長，率いる. “What’s your will, sor?” he asked softly.
“You remember the woman who was taken in at Wimbledon years ago?” questioned Hale impatiently. “The woman with the amethyst cross.”
“Ay, sor, I mind that. I wor a 明らかにする-futted gossoon thin. Me mother—rist her sowl!—laid out the shroud av her.”
“Had this woman a child with her?” asked Jabez 敏速に.
“No, sor,” said Tim unhesitatingly, “she had not. The only child in the house wor 行方不明になる Lesbia here.”
“That will do,” said Hale impatiently, waving his 手渡す, and 製図／抽選 a long breath, “you can go,” and Tim took his 出発. “Are you 満足させるd?” he asked turning to the lawyer.
“No,” said that gentleman 静かに, “I must have a better proof that there was no child. From 確かな rumours, which I remember 審理，公聴会 years ago, I am inclined to believe that there is a child.”
“I believe there was a child,” said Mrs. Walker, who had been sitting grim and silent. “Kate wrote to me two years after she eloped with that man, that she had a baby and that it was very ill. She did not 推定する／予想する it to live.”
“Did she について言及する the sex of the child?”
“No. She did not, nor did I ever hear from her again. I daresay that man cast her off, or 砂漠d her, and she はうd to Wimbledon to die. But the child must be dead also, so I 相続する the money.”
“No! no! no. There is not 十分な proof of the child’s death,” said Jabez, “although it appears we can 証明する the death of your sister. Then again, I must have the amethyst cross placed in my 手渡すs before I can part with the money. It is 井戸／弁護士席 投資するd,” 追加するd Jabez with a chuckle, “and brings in a trifle over two thousand a year. You are 訂正する in your 見積（る）, Mr. Hale, but I 疑問 if you can （人命などを）奪う，主張する the money.”
“I could if I had the cross,” muttered Hale savagely.
“Not even then. If the child, whether male or 女性（の）, appears with the cross and I can 証明する that it is the child of Mrs. Walker’s sister then I’ll を引き渡す the money. If we can 証明する the death of the child, Mrs. Walker will get the money.”
“And I’ll have it,” cried Mrs. Walker rising indignantly. “I am 確かな that the child is dead. Kate wrote that it was 危険に ill.”
“But not dead,” chuckled Jabez, ちらりと見ることing at his watch. “井戸／弁護士席, there is nothing more to be said, so I shall take my leave. Good-day! good-day! good-day!” he nodded again to each in turn and 消えるd as 突然に as he had entered. Mrs. Walker looked remarkably angry.
“The money is 地雷 and I’ll have it,” she said determinedly.
“You must first find the amethyst cross,” sneered Hale.
After Mrs. Walker’s portentous visit to Rose Cottage with her lawyer, things went on 静かに for some days. Mr. Hale at first 前向きに／確かに 辞退するd to speak on the 支配する of the cross and the fortune 大（公）使館員d thereto, as he 持続するd that it was useless to talk about impossibilities. Then he changed his mind and spoke with 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の freedom.
“Nothing can be done until we find the amethyst cross,” he said gloomily to his daughter, “when that is produced, the money will be 来たるべき.”
“But you forget, father, that the cross has to be produced by Mrs. Walker’s 甥 or niece,” said Lesbia doubtfully.
“She hasn’t got one,” snapped Hale. “If there was a child, it is dead. I know that no child was brought to my house at Wimbledon by Kate Morse.”
“Mrs. Walker said that was her sister’s maiden 指名する. Do you know the 指名する of the man she married?”
“Yes.” Hale cast a jealous 味方する-ちらりと見ること at his daughter. “It’s an old story and a long one.”
“Which has to do with Mrs. Walker’s 敵意 against you?” 固執するd Lesbia.
“Yes,” said Hale again. “She thought that I had something to do with her sister’s elopement. Such rubbish, as though I could have helped it.”
“Why did 行方不明になる Morse run away, then?”
“Because of her father. He was a 豊富な, old, psalm-singing idiot, who made the two girls wretched. Kate fell in love with a 確かな friend of 地雷—I am not going to について言及する his 指名する—and old Morse told him that he was not to come 近づく the house. Then Kate took the bit between her teeth and ran away with the man. She had a 哀れな life, I believe, but I saw nothing of her until she つまずくd foot-sore and 疲れた／うんざりした into my house at Wimbledon. The 残り／休憩（する） you know.”
“And the money?” asked Lesbia anxiously.
“You heard all that is to be said on that 支配する when Mrs. Walker was here,” growled Hale, who was more communicative than usual. “But I’ll repeat the story, because I wish to make a suggestion.”
“What is the suggestion?” asked the girl, who 不信d the uneasy looks of her father.
“First the story and then the suggestion,” he 発言／述べるd grimly. “井戸／弁護士席, it can scarcely be called a story. Samuel Morse, the psalm-singing old ass I told you of, had a hundred thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, two daughters, and no son. He made a will leaving the money 平等に divided between them, and after death the money if not used up was to go to their 相続人s. Judith—Mrs. Walker that is—married a scampish man-about-town, who soon got through all she had and then broke his neck in a steeplechase, leaving Judith with next to nothing upon which to bring up George. Kate, having eloped with the man whose 指名する I don’t wish to について言及する, did not （人命などを）奪う，主張する her 株 of the cash.”
“If Mr. Morse was so angry I wonder he did not alter his will.”
“He would have done so. Of that I am 絶対 確かな ,” said Hale emphatically, “but he had no time to do so. すぐに after he made his will Kate eloped, and the old man died in a fit of 激怒（する）, before he could give 指示／教授／教育s to Jabez who was his lawyer. Jabez gave fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs to Judith, who by and by married Walker and lost it all through his spendthrift habits. The remaining fifty thousand he 投資するd, and what with the 主要な／長／主犯 and 利益／興味 it must be a tidy sum by now. At all events it brings in over two thousand a year. Since Kate is dead the money passes to her child if she left any, which I do not believe. Failing a child, it 逆戻りするs by the will to Mrs. Walker.”
“But why need she produce the amethyst cross?” asked Lesbia.
“She need not, as her 身元 is fully 設立するd in Jabez’s 注目する，もくろむs. The cross—as I learned from him years ago—was an ornament which old Morse had made for Kate, a 肉親，親類d of 宗教的な symbol.”
“Who 耐えるs the cross will 勝利，勝つ the 栄冠を与える,” said Lesbia, remembering the ornament; “or rather, as the motto goes, lose the 栄冠を与える by 辞退するing the cross.”
Hale nodded with a smile of contempt. “Yes! That was old Morse’s idea. He gave the cross to Kate, and then she ran away with it and the man who became her husband. Jabez, knowing that the ornament is peculiar, 断言するs that he will need the cross to 証明する the 身元 of Kate or of her child, as no one else could 所有する so 半端物 a trinket. As if it could not be imitated 正確に／まさに,” ended Hale with contempt.
“The cross might be imitated,” said Lesbia, doubtfully. “But as the poor woman is dead, it will not be so 平易な to produce a child as hers.”
Hale, with his 長，率いる on one 味方する, looked at her oddly. “I don’t know so much about that,” he said slowly.
“What do you mean?” questioned Lesbia, seeing that her father had something on his mind.
“井戸／弁護士席,” said Hale, pinching his chin and still looking at her as though to hypnotise her mind; “there was no child, as I said. But you were only a baby twenty years ago, born, in fact, only a week before Kate Morse （機の）カム to my house. Could we not say that you are the child?”
“What?” Lesbia looked indignantly at her father.
“Don’t be foolish,” said Hale testily. “It is not a 罪，犯罪 seeing that the money is there for the asking, Bridget Burke told you that the cross was given to you by your mother. Let it be so, and I can 断言する and, for your sake, I can get Tim to 断言する, that you are the long-lost child. The train has already been laid by Bridget’s story—which by the way I told her to tell you—so old Jabez will be 平易な to 納得させる.”
Lesbia drew a long breath. “I should not think of deceiving and robbing Mrs. Walker.”
“Oh, nonsense,” said Hale 真面目に. “When she dies the money goes to her son, so if you marry him you can を引き渡す twenty-five thousand to him, or say one thousand a year. Thus you will be 事実上の／代理 honestly に向かって the Walkers, my dear, and—”
“And dishonestly に向かって myself,” cried Lesbia indignantly. “And what of the remaining one thousand a year, father?”
Hale drooped his 注目する，もくろむs suavely. “I take that for arranging that you get the money. Come, Lesbia, what do you say?”
“I 拒絶する／低下する,” she retorted, quivering with indignation. “How dare you, who are my father, make such a 提案? Even if I were the true child, I should not give you one penny.”
“Ha!” said Hale 激しく. “I thought so, and thus 示唆するd a wild 計画／陰謀 to try you. I might have known.”
“I believe that if I had fallen in with your 計画／陰謀,” cried Lesbia boldly, “that you would have arranged to carry it through. You have not the cross, however, and even if I 同意d—”
“I remember the look of the cross, and so do you. It could have been duplicated, my dear.”
Lesbia looked at her father in 苦痛d astonishment, and then burst into bitter 涙／ほころびs. “Oh, how I wish that I could 尊敬（する）・点 you,” she wailed.
Hale 解除するd his eyebrows. “Don’t you?”
“No! How can I, when I find that you are so wicked?”
“I was only trying you,” he said あわてて. “Though it is true that had you shown a disposition to give me my fair 株 I might have endeavoured to get you this fortune. But, as it is, I see 井戸／弁護士席 that all my 苦痛s would be thrown away. You would see me—your own father—餓死する rather than let me have one penny.”
Lesbia 乾燥した，日照りのd her 涙／ほころびs. “I would have nothing to do with such a wicked 計画／陰謀, and I only wish I could get away from you. You have never been a father to me, and every day we drift さらに先に and さらに先に apart. When I see Lord Charvington I shall ask him to help me to get a 状況／情勢, as a companion or a nursery governess, and then—”
“Lesbia, you surely would not 不名誉 me by talking to Charvington in that way,” said Hale, his 直面する growing dark. “Perhaps I have never been affectionate, but then I feel more than I say. And you have always had 慰安 and all that I could give.”
“I have had everything, save a father’s love.”
“My nature is a reticent one,” said her father sullenly. “So it is useless to ask for impossibilities. If you really are unhappy with me, marry George Walker and have done with it.”
“And what about Captain Sargent?” asked Lesbia はっきりと.
Hale shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t 軍隊 you to marry a man against your will, bad father as you say that I am. I have done my best for you and you 断固としてやる regard me with 疑惑.”
“What you 提案するd to do just now—”
“Was 単に an 実験. Think no more about it, and don’t make yourself ridiculous with Charvington. Play your cards 井戸／弁護士席 with him and his wife, and you may make a good match.”
“I shall marry no one but George,” said Lesbia obstinately.
“He won’t have anything to do with you,” sneered Hale, and turned away.
Things 存在 緊張するd in this way Lesbia was 十分に unhappy, 特に as George was absent and silent. She could not understand why, after her explanation, he 辞退するd to come 支援する to her. But in the depths of her mind, she felt 確かな that he was 事実上の／代理 against his heart’s 願望（する）, and much in the same way as she had 行為／法令／行動するd when she 解任するd him. It was impossible to see him, as he was in London and she did not know his 演説（する）／住所, and it was 平等に impossible to 令状 to him. Certainly, as Mrs. Walker was ready to receive her, she could have gone to Medmenham to converse with that formidable lady, but she hesitated to 注ぐ out her woes in that ４半期/4分の1. In spite of her sudden friendliness, Mrs. Walker was 冷淡な, and the poor girl longed for some 肉親，親類d breast whereon she could 嘘（をつく） and weep and be 慰安d.
Thus it can easily be guessed that Lesbia あられ／賞賛するd with joy the arrival of a きびきびした little woman, who introduced herself as Lady Charvington. She （機の）カム in a gorgeous モーター car, with much noise and pomp, and was dressed like Solomon, in all his glory, so wonderful was her frock. Mr. Hale was within and received her with much deference, which was natural considering that Lord Charvington was his patron. Lesbia was sent for, and duly （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to the tiny 製図／抽選-room to be introduced.
“So this is Lesbia,” said Lady Charvington, putting up a tortoise-爆撃する lorgnette, “やめる a beauty I 宣言する.”
She frowned a trifle when she said this, for her own daughters, in their ’teens at 現在の, were not beautiful. She herself had no 広大な／多数の／重要な pretension to good looks, although she made the best of herself in every way. She was as small as Lesbia, but did not 所有する such a complexion or such a 人物／姿／数字, and there was an ill-tempered droop to her mouth which made the girl 不信 her. For Lord Charvington’s sake, since he had been so 肉親，親類d to her, Lesbia was anxious to love his wife, and perhaps had she been a plain girl Lady Charvington might have given her an 適切な時期 of 演習ing such affection. But the looks of Lesbia took her aback, as she saw in this delicately beautiful girl a formidable 競争相手, not only to her plain daughters but to herself. For Lady Charvington, in spite of her age and of the fact that she was married, flirted a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定. However, 速く as these things passed through her mind, she did not 許す them to be 明らかにする／漏らすd by her 直面する and welcomed Lesbia with 井戸／弁護士席-影響する／感情d enthusiasm.
“You dear,” she said, hopping up like a bird to つつく／ペック the velvet cheek of her 提案するd guest; “why have you hidden yourself for so long?”
“I have been stopping here with my father since I （機の）カム from school,” said Lesbia, trying to 打ち勝つ a sudden dislike for this smiling 見通し of small talk and chiffon.
Lady Charvington shook a dainty finger at Mr. Hale, who was looking on 井戸／弁護士席-pleased at the scene. “You naughty, naughty man,” she cried effusively and girlishly, “how dare you keep Beauty shut up in a 城 no one ever heard of? But that Charvington spoke about this 甘い thing the other day and 提案するd to have her over at the 法廷，裁判所 for a few days, I should never never have seen her.”
“I didn’t wish to trouble you with my girl, Lady Charvington.”
“Oh,” Lady Charvington uttered a little 叫び声をあげる of delight, while taking in every 詳細（に述べる） of Lesbia’s looks and 衣装, “there will be no trouble. We have always plenty of nice boys at the 法廷，裁判所 and they will lose their 長，率いるs over this Sleeping Beauty. For you are that, you know,” she 追加するd to Lesbia, “whatever the poor dear creature’s 指名する may have been. But I have come at my husband’s 表明する 願望（する） to wake you up, and to find a prince who will kiss you.”
“I have already got one,” said Lesbia 突然の. “I am engaged!”
Hale frowned, as he thought that she was too candid, but Lady Charvington felt more 満足させるd than she had been. An engaged girl would not be so dangerous. “Then we must ask your prince over to the 法廷，裁判所 also,” she 宣言するd effusively and kissed Lesbia again. “I have brought over the car to take you 支援する to dinner. Get your frocks and frills, dear, and we shall start while the afternoon is yet warm.”
“Are you ready to go, Lesbia?” asked Hale, smiling artificially, for, from the look on his daughter’s 直面する, he was not やめる sure if she 認可するd of the 招待.
But he need not have troubled. Lesbia did not like Lady Charvington but, 存在 anxious to see my lady’s husband and tell him of her troubles—since the sending of the cheque 証明するd him to be a kindly man,—made up her mind to 打ち勝つ her 不信 and travel in the モーター car. “Everything is ready,” she said 静かに. “I have only one box.”
“Oh, but, my dear, I wish you to stay for a week,” 抗議するd the lady.
“So I understood, and thank you very much,” replied the girl with 施行するd 真心. “And the one box of 着せる／賦与するs will be 十分な.”
“Dear me!” said Lady Charvington with a gasp, “what a careful girl you must be. Why I take five boxes for a week’s visit.”
“I am not rich enough to do that. Besides,” 追加するd Lesbia smiling, “I should only cumber up your モーター car.”
“Oh, that is all 権利. It’s a big thing and 持つ／拘留するs heaps. Have you ever been in one, my dear girl?”
“Lesbia has lived a very 静かな life,” interposed Hale quickly, “and knows nothing of modern 高級な.”
“Poor thing,” said Lady Charvington, with a pitying ちらりと見ること. “I hope your prince is 豊富な,” she 追加するd, turning to Lesbia.
The girl smiled. “On the contrary, he is very poor.”
“Dear me! I seem to have 設立する a paragon of virtue. But are you not rather foolish, my dear girl? With such a 直面する and such a 人物／姿／数字 and with my 影響（力） you should make a better match.”
“So I tell her,” cried Hale quickly; he was always on the watch to put in a word, “and she is not really engaged, Lady Charvington. There is some 不一致 between Lesbia and Mr. Walker.”
“What a horrid 指名する! So plebeian!” cried Lady Charvington.
“George is not plebeian,” said Lesbia, colouring hotly, “his father was the Honourable Aylmer Walker.”
“Lord Casterton’s third son,” said the 訪問者, nodding. “Yes, I have heard of him from my brothers. He was rather wild, was he not?”
“Really I don’t know.”
“There is no chance of his coming in for the 肩書を与える—your George, I mean,” prattled on Lady Charvington, “as Aylmer Walker’s two 年上の brothers have both heaps and heaps of children. I rather think that Aylmer was the 黒人／ボイコット ba-ba of the family. 井戸／弁護士席, there, I’m talking スキャンダル, a thing of which I 高度に disapprove. Go and get your things on, dear, and tell your man to put your box on the モーター. Wilkins will help him. He’s the chauffeur—not at all a bad driver, but oh, so dreadfully 無謀な. Be 用意が出来ている to go like the 勝利，勝つd, my dear.”
Lady Charvington babbled on in this fashion with bird-like ちらりと見ることs here and there, taking in every 詳細（に述べる） of the room. She knew that Hale was a poor relation of her husband’s, and indeed had received him twice or thrice at The 法廷，裁判所 近づく Maidenhead. But this was the first time she had seen his daughter and, but for the 表明する 命令（する） of Lord Charvington, she would not have asked her over. There was some 慰安 in the fact that the girl’s affections were engaged, but all the same, such beauty, whether 解放する／自由な or bound, would 証明する dangerous. “I 信用 she won’t 干渉する with my men,” thought Lady Charvington as she smiled sweetly on Lesbia leaving the tiny 製図／抽選-room.
The girl 召喚するd Tim to take her box to the 自動車 which was panting violently at the door, and went to her room to put on her hat. She made a desperate 試みる／企てる while doing so to 打ち勝つ her dislike to Lady Charvington, as she felt sure that for some 推論する／理由 the little woman was 敵意を持った. Lesbia was too unsophisticated to put 負かす／撃墜する the 敵意 to the fact that Lady Charvington 設立する her exasperatingly beautiful, and was puzzled to think why any 敵意 should 存在する. But it certainly was there, and Lesbia （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd it すぐに. However, as she could see no 推論する／理由 for any such feeling 存在するing between her and a woman who—on the 直面する of it—was doing her a 親切, she fought 猛烈に with her intuition. Still it seemed to her that she was but leaving one abode of trouble to go to another, wherein even more annoying things might happen. And the root of all the worry was the 行方不明の cross.
Tim took 負かす／撃墜する the box and then returned to Lesbia’s bedroom as she was 問題／発行するing therefrom. He drew her 支援する mysteriously and produced a letter 慎重に from his inner pocket. “This is for you, 行方不明になる,” he 宣言するd in a whisper, “it （機の）カム under cover to me by the 中央の-day 地位，任命する, with a scratch av a pin 説 Mr. Canning sint it, and ‘twas to be given ye at onct.”
“Mr. Canning!” Lesbia’s 直面する grew eager, and she あわてて opened the thin envelope to skim five or six lines written on foreign notepaper. What she read surprised her, and she 公式文書，認めるd that the 演説（する）／住所 given was in a 静かな street in Whitechapel.
“I have heard 間接に,” wrote The 影をつくる／尾行する, “that you are going some time to The 法廷，裁判所, Lord Charvington’s place 近づく Maidenhead. If you do, keep a good watch, as two London thieves—the same who robbed Tait’s strong-room by Tait’s direction—are about to try to steal Lady Charvington’s jewels when everyone is at dinner. The 試みる／企てる will be made on Thursday evening. I advise you to 警告する Lord Charvington, but tell him not to bring in the police, as he will 深く，強烈に 悔いる doing so. Yours always, C.”
This mysterious letter, 調印するd with Canning’s 初期の, startled Lesbia, For the moment she felt inclined to go 負かす／撃墜する and tell her father: but on second thoughts and with a discretion far beyond her years, she decided to say nothing until she met her host. It was now Tuesday, and the 押し込み強盗 was not arranged for until Thursday. There was ample time.
“It’s nothing, Tim,” she said mendaciously, putting the letter away. “Good-bye for one whole week, you dear old thing,” and she kissed him 情愛深く.
The 法廷，裁判所, 近づく Maidenhead, was Lord Charvington’s 長，指導者 country 住居 on account of its proximity to London. It was a modern mansion built in 早期に Victorian days and, in 一致 with the taste of that period, had no 広大な／多数の／重要な pretensions to architectural beauty. In fact it might be called ugly, and was a 抱擁する, 星／主役にするing barrack of a place, やめる out of keeping with the beauty of the surrounding grounds. These were of large extent, and so admirably laid out that they made up for the 欠陥／不足s of the building, which, after all, was comfortable enough within doors, if its 外部の 面 was uninviting. Modern 高級な had made the many rooms very habitable, and the barn—it looked like a barn—was furnished with the magnificence of Aladdin’s palace.
Lesbia arrived with her hostess in time for afternoon tea and was speedily introduced to Lord Charvington. There were at least ten guests of 流行の／上流の London stopping for a few days and, while Lady Charvington chatted with these, her husband made himself agreeable to 行方不明になる Hale. She was very glad to find Charvington so agreeable and 同情的な, for 自然に her first 急落（する），激減（する） into society made her somewhat shy. And her host was 特に attentive, やめる in a different way from Lady Charvington’s careless 歓待. After a few minutes’ conversation Lesbia felt as though she had known him for years, and was soon やめる at her 緩和する. In fact, Lady Charvington, at the other end of the room, cast a displeased look in Lesbia’s direction, when she heard her laughing so gaily, and saw how her pretty 直面する was 花冠d in smiles. Charvington was making a fool of the girl, she thought, and indeed 個人として みなすd it foolish that he had 解除するd the girl into a circle so 外国人 to her ordinary life, since she had neither the money nor the experience to 支える her new position. However, Charvington had made a point of his cousin’s daughter 存在 asked, so Lady Charvington gave way, as she always did to her husband in small things.
Charvington was a tall and somewhat stout man, with a fresh-coloured 直面する and leonine 集まりs of white hair worn somewhat long. He was clean-shaven, with merry blue 注目する，もくろむs filled with vigorous life, and 所有するd a strong, 静める 発言する／表明する, 同情的な and 甘い. His manner was きびきびした and lively, and more ふさわしい to 青年 than to age. Not that he was so very old, for he certainly appeared as lively as the youngest man in the room. Everyone in the West End knew Lord Charvington, as he was rich and 肉親，親類d-hearted, two things which beget a very agreeable 評判. Many a young man had to thank Charvington for help and advice, and in an unostentatious way he did a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of good. When Lesbia talked with him and became 熟知させるd with his personality, she no longer wondered that he had acceded so readily to her request for a 貸付金. The purse of such a genial man was always open to the 貧困の, and very often to the undeserving.
“I am glad you have come over, Lesbia,” he said admiringly, as they sat in a 静かな corner of the room far from the chattering guests. “Hale did not tell me that you were so pretty. By the way, you must not mind my calling you by your Christian 指名する. I knew you when you were but a baby, and it is my 特権, as your 年輩の cousin, to be familiar.”
“I am very glad you are familiar,” said the girl, 解除するing her 注目する，もくろむs to the strong, 肉親，親類d 直面する, “and I cannot forget that you sent me that fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs so kindly, without asking what I wished to do with it.”
“Pooh! pooh! That is nothing, child. Who should help you but I? Whenever you are in want of money 令状 to me, and you will receive a cheque by return of 地位，任命する. I am your cousin, you know. And a very bad cousin at that,” 追加するd Charvington, with sudden energy. “I should have had you here long ago. You must have led a dull life in Marlow.”
“No,” answered Lesbia 静かに, “there was always George.”
“Who is George?”
“The man I love.”
“Oh!” Charvington’s 注目する，もくろむs twinkled more than ever; “you are engaged.”
“Yes and no.”
The man looked puzzled. “What do you mean? I don’t like riddles.”
Lesbia sighed. “It is a riddle, and a very painful one. For that 推論する／理由 I 受託するd your 肉親，親類d 招待 and （機の）カム over. I want to tell you what I did with the fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs, and also I wish to ask your advice.”
“I shall be delighted to give it, but surely your father—”
“My father”—Lesbia checked a scornful 発言／述べる which was on the tip of her tongue—“my father would take no 利益／興味 in what I wish to tell you.”
Charvington bent his brow and looked at her thoughtfully. “You shall come to the library in the morning, and there we can have a 雑談（する）,” he said. “Only one thing I ask you now: your father does not 扱う／治療する you 不正に?”
“No,” 滞るd the girl, looking 負かす／撃墜する; she could not betray her father, although he had behaved so ill. “My father is—井戸／弁護士席 enough,” she ended lamely.
“Humph!” muttered Charvington, with his 注目する，もくろむs still on her 直面する. “井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席, we shall see! 合間 have some more tea,” and he walked across the room to have her cup filled.
No more was said for the time 存在, but Charvington’s 肉親，親類d manner made Lesbia more 決定するd than ever to confide in him. She believed that she had at length 設立する a friend who would 援助（する） her to withstand the tyranny of her father, and who would 補助装置 to put things 権利 with her lover. They were crooked enough now in all 良心. Moreover, in any 事例／患者, she was 軍隊d to show him Canning’s letter, so that he might 供給する against the 事業／計画（する）d 押し込み強盗. If she told this much she would have to tell all, for only by making a clean breast of it could she be extricated from the 苦境に陥る into which she had sunk, through no fault of her own. All that evening she longed for the morning, so that she might tell her new friend the many difficulties which were making her 哀れな.
Not that the evening was dull. On the contrary, as the mansion was filled with lively, 井戸／弁護士席-bred people, it was やめる a 発覚 to Lesbia in the way of enjoyment. Everyone seemed to be happy and untroubled by care, which contrasted 堅固に with the incessant worry which went on within the four 塀で囲むs of Rose Cottage. These society people—outwardly at all events—seemed as careless gods, happy, merry, and gloriously irresponsible. Later in life Lesbia learned what sadness lurked under this frivolous, laughing exterior, but at this time she was やめる deceived, and thought to herself, “How happy are the rich and 井戸／弁護士席-born!”
Lady Charvington’s two daughters—not yet old enough to be 現在のd—were very nice girls, although they were decidedly plain-looking. But they appeared to have 非，不，無 of their mother’s jealousy regarding Lesbia’s beauty, and made much of her. She 設立する herself laughing and talking and entering into their girlish lives, やめる as if she had known them for many years. Lord Charvington seemed 特に pleased that this should be so, and 統括するd over the trio like a benevolent wizard. For the most part Lesbia was with the two girls during her visit, in spite of the attentions paid to her by sundry 青年s smitten by her beauty. Seeing this, Lady Charvington became much more gracious, and inwardly decided that Lesbia Hale knew her place. All the same she was a trifle uneasy at the way in which Charvington hovered 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the pretty 訪問者. Not that she cared over much for her husband, who was older than she was; にもかかわらず, she did not like to see him 支払う／賃金ing 示すd attentions to anyone else.
On the first evening, there was a small dance after a very splendid dinner. Lesbia, in her simple white dress, attracted much notice, but she preferred to talk to Agatha and Lena, Lord Charvington’s daughters, and to laugh at their father’s 穏やかな witticisms. During a なぎ in the dance there was some singing, and に向かって the end of the evening an excellent supper. Lesbia retired at midnight, while yet the festivities were in 十分な swing. This was at Lord Charvington’s 表明する wish, as he did not 認可する of 青年 losing any necessary beauty-sleep. When she laid her 長，率いる on the pillow and was 落ちるing asleep, Lesbia 自白するd that she had enjoyed herself 大いに. If George had only been 現在の the evening would have been perfect.
Next morning, Agatha and Lena woke her 早期に and took her 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the grounds. The girls 交流d 信用／信任s—主として about school life,—ran races on the dewy sward, and entered filled with the joy of life to eat a surprisingly good breakfast. Lady Charvington was rather astounded at Lesbia’s appetite. So pretty a girl, she decided, should eat いっそう少なく and talk いっそう少なく. But Lesbia, although a fairy in looks, could not live on fairy food, and enjoyed to the 十分な the excellent meal 供給するd by the very 有能な chef of her host. “Horrid, greedy, pert girl,” thought Lady Charvington, who was all smiles and attention. “I am sure I shan’t like her!”—やめる a needless thought, as she already heartily disliked her 訪問者 for other 推論する／理由s than because she was pretty. But these 推論する／理由s Lesbia did not learn for some months. Then they did not 事柄, as life had changed by that time for the better.
After breakfast, Lord Charvington carried off his pretty little guest to a noble room lined with 調書をとる／予約するs, and placing her in a most comfortable arm-議長，司会を務める, took his own seat at his desk. “Now, my child, what is it?” he asked.
“It is rather difficult to begin,” 滞るd Lesbia, feeling if she had the 致命的な letter in her pocket.
“Not with me, my dear. You know that you can 信用 me 暗黙に.”
“Yes,” said Lesbia, raising her （疑いを）晴らす 注目する，もくろむs to the 肉親，親類d 直面する. “井戸／弁護士席 then I shall begin from the time I gave George the amethyst cross.”
“What?” Charvington’s ruddy 直面する grew pale, and he 押し進めるd 支援する his 議長，司会を務める with かなりの 暴力／激しさ; “the amethyst cross!”
“Do you know anything about it?” asked Lesbia, astonished by his change of colour and evident emotion. “It is lost you know—stolen.”
“Who stole it?” 需要・要求するd the man mastering himself with an 明らかな 成果／努力.
“Listen,” said Lesbia, and 関係のある everything from the time George Walker had 提案するd to the moment of Lady Charvington’s arrival at Rose Cottage. But for the moment she said nothing of the letter from Canning. That could keep until she heard what Charvington had to say to the first part of her story. And it may be について言及するd that Lesbia spared her father as much as possible, while explaining her difficulties.
After his first violent movement, Lord Charvington listened in dead silence, and his colour slowly returned. With his 注目する，もくろむs 回避するd, he heard the whole 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の tale, without interruption, and only when it was 結論するd did he speak. Then he gave but small 慰安. “I cannot understand what it all means,” he said slowly. “I shall see Hale, and doubtless he will be able to explain 事柄s. But have no 恐れる, child, if you love George Walker, you shall marry him. I know Mrs. Walker, and I knew her husband. A wild fellow was Aylmer Walker, but not without his good points.”
“And you won’t let my father have me watched again,” said Lesbia anxiously.
“Certainly not,” cried Charvington ひどく. “If I had known that, I would have—but that’s neither here nor there. Your father 借りがあるs me too much to 無視（する） my wishes. I shall see that he leaves you your 十分な liberty and that he 同意s to your marriage with George. I hope he is worthy of you, my dear—George I mean,” he 追加するd wistfully.
“Oh yes. He’s the dearest, sweetest, best—”
“There! There!” Charvington smiled a trifle drily. “I can see that your heart is 始める，決める upon 存在 Mrs. Walker. Very good. I shall see that George has an 適切な時期 of 収入 money, so that you can marry him.”
“And the cross?”
“Never mind the cross just now,” said Charvington あわてて. “I shall have to see your father about that. Later we can talk on the 支配する. But this Tait,” he drummed anxiously with his fingers on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する; “I knew Tait many years ago. He always was a scoundrel, although I did not think he would go so far as to join himself with professional thieves—”
“Oh,” Lesbia drew the letter of Canning from her pocket, “I forgot. Read this, Lord Charvington. It’s a 警告—only don’t tell the police.”
Her host 機動力のある his pince-nez and read the missive in surprise. His 直面する grew a dark red, and he muttered a word which Lesbia luckily did not overhear. Then he 倍のd the letter and placed it in his pocket without 発言／述べる.
“You won’t tell the police,” said Lesbia again and still anxiously.
“No,” said Charvington, rising, “from what Canning 設立する out before, I believe Tait is in this 商売／仕事 also. I don’t want for several 推論する／理由s to make a スキャンダル connected with the man, although he deserves to be gaoled for life. Still, I shall take 警戒s by having the house watched. Also I must get my wife to put away her jewel-casket in the 安全な. She is very careless about her jewels, and leaves the casket in her bedroom, いつかs in a drawer or wardrobe, but more often open on the dressing-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. The maid should put it away, of course, but she’s a half-blind old creature who was my wife’s nurse, and neglects things. But to-day is Wednesday and the 押し込み強盗 is arranged for to-morrow evening when we dine. I shall see that my wife puts away her jewels to-morrow evening. I shall go to her room and see that they are 安全な before I go to dinner.”
“But why not to-day also?” asked Lesbia anxiously.
“The 押し込み強盗 is not until to-morrow evening, child,” said Charvington kindly. “They are 安全な until then, as they have been 安全な for years in spite of my wife’s 甚だしい／１２ダース carelessness and 信用 in her neglectful old nurse. No, my dear, you have given me a needed 警告, so it is no use bothering your 長，率いる その上の. To-morrow, I shall make all 安全な. When these two thieves find that the house is guarded, they will not 試みる／企てる the 強盗.”
“Will you 警告する Lady Charvington?”
“What! and have her 落ちる into hysterics? No. I shall 単に see that the jewels are locked up nightly after to-morrow, and have the house watched for a week or so. My wife need know nothing, my dear.”
“I shall keep my own counsel,” said Lesbia, rising to leave the room, “but I do wish you would have the jewels put away to-night, Lord Charvington.”
“井戸／弁護士席,” he smiled kindly, “perhaps, as you are so anxious I shall. But, as we know the time and date of the 事業／計画（する）d 押し込み強盗, there is no need.”
Lesbia went away, 慰安d to think that Charvington now knew all her troubles, and would help her when it was necessary. Doubtless he would procure George a good 状況／情勢, and then she could marry her lover. But the emotion of Charvington, when the amethyst cross was について言及するd, puzzled Lesbia 大いに, as there appeared to be no 推論する／理由 for it. However, she 慰安d herself with the reflection, that—as he had 約束d—he would explain everything when the 任命するd time arrived, and went to enjoy her holiday with the two girls. The enjoyment took the form of a picnic and a run 負かす／撃墜する the river on Lord Charvington’s 罰金 steam 開始する，打ち上げる.
When the girls were out of the way, Charvington sought his wife and pointed out to her the folly of leaving a 事例／患者 十分な of rich jewels on her dressing-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. “They might be stolen,” he remonstrated.
Lady Charvington was not at all 感謝する. “You are always making a fuss over the jewels,” she said impatiently. “I have left the 事例／患者 in my bedroom for years and I have never lost a 選び出す／独身 thing.”
“That doesn’t say you might not lose the lot,” snapped Charvington, who 設立する his wife trying even to his kindly nature.
“There’s time enough to talk when I do lose them.”
“Then it will be too late. I ask you to put them away every night in the strong-room. Bertha can take the 事例／患者 there, when she has dressed you for dinner.”
“Very 井戸／弁護士席,” said Lady Charvington, who was impatient to return to a very 利益／興味ing 調書をとる／予約する she was reading. “I’ll tell Bertha, though I’m sure if the 事例／患者 is in my bedroom she can look after it 井戸／弁護士席 enough.”
“Pooh. She’s half blind. Why don’t you get a better maid?”
“Bertha’s been with me all my life, and I shall keep her until she is past work. You have no heart, Charvington,” she ended virtuously.
“She’s past work now,” said her husband, as he stalked from the boudoir.
Nothing more was said, but had Charvington been in the house on that Wednesday evening he would either have asked his wife if the jewels had been put away, or have …に出席するd to the 事柄 himself. But during the day he suddenly decided to go up to London ーするために see a 私立探偵 whom he had 雇うd before on さまざまな delicate 事柄s. It would be just 同様に, thought Charvington, to have this man in the house on Thursday evening. Then, if the two thieves alluded to by Canning did arrive, the man could lay 手渡すs on them. Not that Charvington wished to make a public 事例／患者 of the 事柄, since, as he had hinted to Lesbia, he was anxious to 避ける スキャンダル in 関係 with Tait, whom he shrewdly 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd of having a 手渡す in this new piece of rascality. For this 推論する／理由 he went up to London to engage the 私立探偵, and remained in town for the night. Next day he 目的d coming 支援する with his assistant and then the 事柄 could be settled 静かに. Lady Charvington would not lose her jewels, and there would be no trouble—公然と at all events—in 関係 with Mr. Michael Tait.
All that Wednesday Lesbia enjoyed herself on the river with her host’s daughters, in spite of the 開始する，打ち上げる’s breaking 負かす／撃墜する 一時的に on the way 支援する, in consequence of some 事故 to the engines. その結果 it was not until seven o’clock at night that the three girls arrived in Maidenhead, and it was thirty minutes past when they （機の）カム to The 法廷，裁判所. Lady Charvington, who had been anxious about their 非，不，無-arrival, 表明するd herself as annoyed at their 失敗 to be in to dinner, which was at seven o’clock. She sent a message 説 that Agatha and Lena were to dine in their school-room with the governess. Lesbia feeling herself a 犯人—although on the 直面する of it not one of the three was to 非難する—decided to dine with the girls and to make her 陳謝s afterwards to Lady Charvington. And a very merry dinner they had, for the governess was a charming, middle-老年の lady, who made everything very pleasant. And then the love of Agatha and Lena for their newly-設立する cousin grew with every hour. On the whole, Lesbia enjoyed that school-room meal more than the splendid dinner of the previous night. She was the more pleased that she had remained absent, as she was told by the governess that Lord Charvington was away in London.
After that merry meal, Lesbia went to change her dress ーするために go 負かす／撃墜する to the 製図／抽選-room. Agatha and Lena followed to chatter and help, as they did not like to be separated from their 訪問者. Lesbia’s room was on the first 床に打ち倒す, 近づく that of the girls, and on the way the three had to pass the door of Lady Charvington’s bedroom. It was の近くにd, but as they passed they heard a shriek of alarm, and 開始 it at once saw one man escaping by the window, and another struggling with Bertha, the 古代の maid. Agatha and Lena ran away 叫び声をあげるing for help, but Lesbia dashed 今後 to help the old woman. At that moment the man—who wore a mask—threw Bertha on the ground and ran に向かって the window. Lesbia caught him before he could fling his 脚 over the sill, and tore off the mask. Then she uttered a cry of 狼狽 and terror.
“Father!” she shrieked, and dropped 負かす／撃墜する in a dead faint.
Next morning, Lesbia was sitting in her bedroom, thinking over the terrible event of the previous night. She had remained in a faint for a かなりの time, and had 回復するd consciousness to find herself lying on her bed. At once she had 願望（する）d to see Lady Charvington, but her hostess sent up a message asking that Lesbia should wait until the arrival of Lord Charvington, who had been wired for. From the somewhat pert behaviour of the maid who brought the message, the unfortunate girl felt that she was in 不名誉, and did not dare to resent it. Having recognised her father in the man whose mask she had torn off, she fancied that the whole 世帯 knew of the 事柄. But in this she was wrong, as she learned, when Agatha, the 年上の of the girls, （機の）カム by stealth to her room about eleven o’clock at night.
“I don’t know what is the 事柄 with mother,” said Agatha speaking in a whisper and keeping a watchful 注目する，もくろむ on the door, “she told Lena and I that we were not to see you, or speak to you.”
“Why?” stammered Lesbia, feeling sick with shame.
“I don’t know. I suppose mother is angry at the loss of her jewels. But my father always told her that she would lose them.”
“Have they caught the thieves?”
“No. Lena and I 叫び声をあげるd, and everyone （機の）カム 急ぐing, up. They 設立する Bertha lying half stunned on the 床に打ち倒す, and you in a faint. The two men had a 自動車 at the gate and got away.”
Lesbia turned even whiter than she was. “Do they know who the men are?”
“Of course they don’t. They wore masks, you know,” said Agatha, “but one mask was 設立する on the 床に打ち倒す. Bertha said that you pulled it off the man who was struggling with her. Did you know his 直面する?”
“No,” muttered Lesbia. The 嘘（をつく） choked her, but she could not 公然と非難する her own father, evil as he was.
“I 推定する／予想する when I fainted he jumped from the window after his companion, and managed to reach the 自動車. Has your father returned, Agatha dear?”
“No,” answered the girl softly, “he is coming 支援する in the morning. Mother has brought in the police from Maidenhead, but I heard her tell the 長，指導者 man that you were too ill to be questioned until the morning. Mother seems to be very angry with you, Lesbia. I wonder why?”
“I don’t know, dear,” said the girl, and indeed she did not. If the 指名するs of the thieves were unknown, Lady Charvington could have nothing against her. “But if your mother doesn’t want you to speak to me, Agatha, you must go 支援する to bed. When the morning comes I shall see your mother and ask what is the 事柄.”
“See father,” said Agatha, pattering across the room with 明らかにする feet, “he is fond of you: he told me so. Mother is always jealous of anyone father likes and she will only be disagreeable. I waited till Lena was asleep, then （機の）カム here. But I’ll go now,” she returned to kiss Lesbia, “good-night, dear, and don’t worry. Everything will be 権利 when father comes 支援する.”
Lesbia thought so also. She had implicit 約束 in Lord Charvington as his daughter had, and knew that he would understand when he heard the truth. But could she tell him the truth? Could she say that the man to whom he 許すd an annuity had crept into the house to steal the jewels? And then Canning had said 特に that the two thieves were the same that had robbed Tait’s strong-room by Tait’s direction. In that 事例／患者, her father was doubly a villain, as he was not only a どろぼう, but had tried to throw the 非難する of the first 押し込み強盗 on George Walker ーするために bring about a 分離 between them. Now he had 追加するd a second 罪，犯罪 to the first, and had robbed his benefactor and cousin at the very time that his own daughter was a guest in the house. Canning must have known of her father’s 犯罪 and so, in his letter—for Lesbia’s sake no 疑問—had advised that the police should not be brought in. But would Charvington keep the 事件／事情／状勢 静かな when his wife had lost her jewels? And in any 事例／患者 would he not send from the house in 怒り／怒る the daughter of such a villain? It was all terrible, shameful, disgraceful, and poor Lesbia sobbed herself to sleep at the horror of it all.
Next morning she could eat no breakfast, but after a 冷淡な bath to freshen her up, dressed and sat by the window waiting for Lord Charvington’s arrival. At first she was inclined to see her hostess and ask why she behaved so oddly. But the fancy was strong within her, that Lady Charvington in some way must have learned the 身元 of at least one of the thieves, and so was visiting the shame of the father on the 長，率いる of the innocent daughter. But then Lesbia could not conjecture if this was true. As Lady Charvington had not entered her bedroom until Hale escaped, she could not have recognised him, and as Hale had escaped the truth would never become known unless Lesbia spoke. This she did not ーするつもりである to do, unless to Lord Charvington, whom she could 信用. She therefore waited 根気よく. At all events, as she gathered from Agatha’s 報告（する）／憶測, whatever Lady Charvington 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd she certainly had not 知らせるd the 世帯, in spite of the demeanour of the pert servant. にもかかわらず, the very forbidding of the two girls to see Lesbia pointed to 疑問s and 憎悪 and knowledge of the worst on Lady Charvington’s part.
As Lesbia sat there looking out on to the beautiful garden with 涙／ほころび-filled 注目する，もくろむs, she 解任するd many circumstances in her father’s life which brought home to her 強制的に his wicked vocation. The sordid persons who （機の）カム by stealth to Rose Cottage must have been thieves and 盗品故買者s who received 盗品. Her father’s mysterious 活動／戦闘s and たびたび（訪れる） absences were accounted for by the fact, for when away he probably had been robbing with his shameful associates. No wonder he had laughed when George had 提案するd to leave Tait’s office and join him in 商売／仕事. And Tait also was a rogue and a scoundrel, belonging to the ギャング（団） of which Walter Hale was a member. Sargent might be a どろぼう also—but of this Lesbia could not be 確かな . にもかかわらず, she began to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う that Canning 偽名，通称 The 影をつくる／尾行する had something to do with the 強盗s. That would explain why a gentleman would descend to 存在 a 秘かに調査する. Canning was under Hale’s thumb and would have to do what he was told to do. Then she recollected how he had 明言する／公表するd that for telling her about Tait’s 計画／陰謀 he would have to go into hiding. There could be no 疑問 about it. Canning belonged to the ギャング（団） and out of 感謝 had betrayed his sordid associates.
Thinking thus Lesbia grew sick and faint. The thought of the wickedness that surrounded her made her shiver. How could she 推定する／予想する George to marry her when she was the daughter of a どろぼう? And she would be 軍隊d to tell him, since she could not marry him and keep silent upon such an important point. To marry George without telling him the truth would be to place herself in the 力／強力にする of her father. And now knowing what her father was, Lesbia felt 確かな that to put money into his pocket he would not stop short of ゆすり，恐喝. No, she would have to tell what she had discovered to George and to Lord Charvington, and thus in one moment she would lose the only two friends she 所有するd. Tim remained and Lesbia knew that, come what might, she could always depend upon the fidelity of the Irishman; she felt sure that Tim was as innocent as herself of this dreadful knowledge which had come to 廃虚 her life. In all wide England there was no more 哀れな girl than the unfortunate Lesbia, as she sat weeping by the window and bidding 別れの（言葉，会） to happiness and respectability.
に向かって noon a message was brought that Lord Charvington wished to see her in the library, and Lesbia after washing away all traces of the bitter 涙／ほころびs she had shed descended the stairs. She was pale and worn, but held herself proudly, for whatever might be known, she was 決定するd to 直面する the worst. Several people were in the hall, and she saw a policeman 近づく the door. But no one looked at her in any way 示唆するing that the terrible truth was known, so Lesbia entered the noble library with a hope that her father had escaped 承認 by all save herself.
Only two people were in the library, Lord Charvington and his wife. The former was walking to and fro with a worried 表現 on his 肉親，親類d 直面する, but the latter seated in an arm-議長，司会を務める 近づく the window looked red with 怒り／怒る and 明らかに had been engaged in a furious argument: “If you don’t tell, I shall,” she was 説 when Lesbia entered.
“You shall say nothing,” said Lord Charvington 厳しく. “持つ／拘留する your tongue as you have done. Hitherto you have 陳列する，発揮するd sense in keeping silence and in silencing Bertha. Continue to behave and—”
“Here’s the girl,” snapped Lady Charvington, interrupting as Lesbia （機の）カム silently into the room and の近くにd the door.
“Why do you speak of me in that way?” asked Lesbia, up in 武器 at once. Knowing herself innocent, she did not ーするつもりである to stand 侮辱.
“You will soon learn,” retorted the other, curling her lip. “I wonder you are not ashamed of yourself. And after all my 親切 too, and my—”
“Silence, Helen,” said Lord Charvington imperiously. “How dare you talk to 行方不明になる Hale so insolently?”
“行方不明になる Hale,” sneered his wife. “Why not call her Lesbia, as you have done?”
“I have every 権利 to; she is my cousin.” Lord Charvington made an angry gesture to 課す silence on his indignant wife, and turned to the girl who stood pale and motionless. “My poor Lesbia, don’t look so woe-begone. I will stand by you whatever my wife may say.”
“What does she say?” asked Lesbia 静かに.
“You had better hear her when she is more composed,” said Lord Charvington with a ちらりと見ること at his wife, その為に 誘発するing her to fresh fury. “She will probably say something in the heat of the moment for which she will be sorry. Helen, had you not better go and 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する?”
Lady Charvington arose with a red 位置／汚点／見つけ出す 燃やすing on either cheek, and her 注目する，もくろむs glittered like those of an angry cat. “How dare you speak to me like this in my own house, Charvington?” she cried in a shrill 発言する／表明する. “I don’t leave this room until you turn that shameless girl out of doors.”
“What do you mean?” 需要・要求するd Lesbia indignantly; but with a 沈むing heart.
“Mean,” 叫び声をあげるd the infuriated woman; “I mean that Bertha heard you calling the masked man who attacked you, ‘Father!’ And you cannot 否定する it. See, Charvington,” she pointed tauntingly to the agonised girl, “she dare not 否定する it. Oh you—you daughter of a どろぼう; you 共犯者 of a どろぼう.”
“Helen, Helen; be silent.”
“I shall not be silent. When Bertha told me the truth I ordered her to 持つ／拘留する her tongue until you returned, Charvington. I have held my peace myself and neither the police nor the servants nor our friends know that this horrid girl is the daughter of a どろぼう. Why you take such an 利益／興味 in the minx I don’t know, but surely after what we have discovered you will pack her off to gaol.”
“To gaol; to gaol,” Lesbia drew herself up, pale, but fearless. As Lady Charvington 投げつけるd her 告訴，告発s, the girl’s spirit rose to defend herself. After all, 有罪の as her father might be, she at least was innocent. “How dare you speak to me in this way?” she said again.
“And how dare you 直面する me, you cat?” snarled Lady Charvington, looking much more like a cat herself. “You arrange with your abominable father to 略奪する me of my jewels, you enter my house to—”
Before Lord Charvington could put out his 手渡す to stop her—for he was afraid to think what these two angry women might do—Lesbia glided past him, and stood 直面する to 直面する with her enemy. “You 嘘（をつく）,” she breathed in such a low, 猛烈な／残忍な 発言する／表明する that the other woman fell 支援する into her 議長，司会を務める with a gasp of 恐れる. “I knew nothing of this. I had no wish to 略奪する you of your jewels.”
“Yes, you had, and I know why!”
“Explain then. I dare you to explain.”
Lady Charvington cast a swift ちらりと見ること at her husband. “I know what I know.”
“You know that I am innocent,” said Lesbia, clenching her 手渡すs; “I dare you to say that I am not.”
“You are your father’s 共犯者.”
“That is untrue,” broke in Lord Charvington 滑らかに, “Lesbia 警告するd me that the jewels would be stolen.”
“Of course,” scoffed his wife triumphantly, “she knew!”
“If I had been in league with my father would I have given the 警告?”
“Yes,” said Lady Charvington, rising to 直面する Lesbia, who had asked the question. “My husband showed me the letter 趣旨ing to come from some man in London. It said that the 押し込み強盗 was arranged for Thursday, and by telling my husband that, he thought he might 安全に leave the house and go to London to engage a 探偵，刑事, while your father robbed the house on Wednesday. It’s a 井戸／弁護士席-arranged 商売／仕事.”
“I don’t know why the 押し込み強盗 took place on Wednesday,” said Lesbia 刻々と; “the letter I gave Lord Charvington is perfectly true. I can’t explain その上の than I have done.”
“Because you can’t; because you can’t,” taunted Lady Charvington, “but you shall leave my house in 不名誉.”
Lord Charvington caught his wife’s wrist. “Lesbia shall return to her home this day,” he said imperiously, “because I won’t have her stopping here to be 侮辱d by you. Bertha will say nothing of what she overheard, as I have forbidden her to speak on the 苦痛 of instant 解雇／（訴訟の）却下. You also, Helen, shall 持つ／拘留する your tongue.”
“I will do nothing of the sort,” breathed Lady Charvington vindictively.
“You shall. I will not 許す you to 廃虚 an innocent girl. Knowing that Hale has stolen your jewels, I can get them 支援する, and have already communicated with him.”
“The police—”
“The police can do nothing. Hale and his 共犯者 got away cleverly in their 自動車 and cannot be traced. If the jewels are returned 損なわれていない—which they will be, as I can 軍隊 Hale to return them—the police will not move その上の in the 事柄, as I can stop them. Then this painful episode will be a thing of the past.”
“I want that girl 不名誉d as an 共犯者,” said the 年上の woman, grinding her teeth and pointing に向かって Lesbia.
Charvington put his arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Lesbia’s waist or she would have fallen. “I shall not 許す it, Helen,” he said 静かに. “Lesbia is innocent. Woman, have you no pity for the poor thing; surely she is 苦しむing enough already, in finding out that her father is a どろぼう.”
“Her father,” jeered Lady Charvington insultingly. “Oh, yes, her father,” she moved 速く に向かって the library door. “If you get 支援する my jewels I shall 持つ／拘留する my tongue, for 推論する／理由s which you may guess, Charvington. But don’t let that creature come 近づく me, or I shall—I shall—oh.” Lady Charvington could scarcely 含む／封じ込める herself. “How I hate you; hate you. I wish you were dead with all my heart and soul, you—you—”
What she was about to say in her furious 怒り／怒る Lesbia could not guess. But whatever it was she never uttered the epithet. Charvington suddenly moved に向かって his wife and 非常に高い above her glared into her 注目する，もくろむs. “If you say another word I’ll kill you.”
Lady Charvington quailed. “You are やめる 有能な of doing so,” she breathed undauntedly; “I’m not afraid of you. But （疑いを）晴らす my house of that,” and with a jeering laugh, she pointed at the trembling girl and left the room.
“What—what does she mean?” gasped Lesbia, 沈むing into a 議長，司会を務める, her courage all gone. “What have I done? How can I help my father—my father—oh Lord Charvington!” and she broke 負かす／撃墜する weeping 激しく.
“Hush! hush!” He stood over her, patting her heaving shoulder. “She doesn’t know what she is 説. I’ll see that she 持つ／拘留するs her tongue and Bertha also. Nothing will ever be known of your father’s complicity in this 罪，犯罪.”
“But what does it mean?” asked Lesbia, 解除するing a 涙／ほころび-stained 直面する.
“God knows,” muttered Charvington moodily, “I have been mistaken in your father, my dear.”
“But—but you don’t 非難する me?”
“No,” he 宣言するd emphatically, “a thousand times no. My dear, I love you as if you were my own child, and I shall never, never believe any 害（を与える） of you in any way. I can keep my wife’s tongue silent, but I can do no more. You must return to Marlow, until such time as I can arrange その上の about your marriage with George Walker.”
“Oh,” Lesbia wailed and stretched her 武器, “I cannot marry him now. Who would marry the daughter of a どろぼう? Father was one of the thieves who robbed Mr. Tait’s strong-room.”
“At Tait’s request remember,” interpolated Charvington quickly.
Lesbia 小衝突d away the speech. “Oh, what does it 事柄 even if they are all thieves. But George must have known the dreadful truth and so he will not 新たにする our 約束／交戦. I did not understand him before; I do now.”
“There! there!” Charvington patted her shoulder again, “don’t worry. All will come 権利, I am sure, and in a way which you do not 推定する／予想する.”
Lesbia looked up with sudden hope. “You know of something.”
“Yes,” said the man gloomily. “I know of something. Don’t ask me any その上の questions just now, but go 支援する to Marlow. The 自動車 is already at the door with your box on it. As all our other guests have left the house, your 出発 will 原因（となる） no surprise.”
“But the police. Will they not want to question me?”
“I’ll …に出席する to that. I told the 視察官 that if necessary he could question you at Rose Cottage. But as I hope to make your father give 支援する the jewels, the 起訴 will be dropped. Remember, the police do not know that your father is 有罪の. 存在 thus ignorant, they can do nothing. Go away in peace, my dear, and leave everything to me.”
Lesbia rose shuddering. “How can I go 支援する to my father, knowing what I now know?” she murmured, shivering.
“You go 支援する to the cottage,” explained Charvington distinctly. “It is my cottage, as I 支払う／賃金 the rent; the furniture also is 地雷. I have supported your father for years and this is the way he 返すs me. However, the cottage is yours. I 約束 you that your father will not come 近づく you.”
“I 信用 not! I 信用 not. I could not 直面する him. And you?”
“I shall come over and see you すぐに. But go away, contented to know that all is 井戸／弁護士席. There will be no スキャンダル, and not a word will be said about this 押し込み強盗. Your father is 安全な and you are 安全な. Later, I shall see about getting your father to go to Australia, and then you can marry Walker.”
“If he will have me,” sighed the unfortunate girl.
“Lesbia,” Charvington took her 直面する between his two 手渡すs and looked into her 注目する，もくろむs; “I 断言する that you shall marry him. There! Let the dead past alone and dream of 未来 happiness,” and he kissed her solemnly.
While Lesbia was thus having so 哀れな a time, George Walker was living very 静かに, いつかs in London, but more often in Medmenham. He carefully 避けるd all について言及する of Lesbia’s 指名する, and when his mother questioned him regarding his 推論する／理由 for 辞退するing to 新たにする the 約束／交戦 he 拒絶する／低下するd to explain. Mrs. Walker was much annoyed by what she 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d his mule-headedness as, after her visit to Rose Cottage, she was やめる willing that Lesbia should become her daughter-in-法律.
“I cannot understand you, George,” said Mrs. Walker to her son during one of their たびたび（訪れる） 口論する人s. “When I 反対するd to this girl, nothing would do but that you must marry her. Now that I have taken a fancy to her, you 辞退する to have anything to do with her. I never thought a son of 地雷 would blow hot and 冷淡な in this silly fashion.”
“I am not blowing hot or 冷淡な,” returned George gloomily; he was very, very 暗い／優うつな in those days and had lost all his light-heartedness. “Lesbia is the only girl in the world that I care to marry. But how can I make her my wife, when I 港／避難所’t a penny to keep her with?”
“That is mere 回避. Things are very little changed from the time you would have married her in the teeth of poverty.”
“There is this much change, that I have lost my 状況／情勢 with Tait and am now living on my mother, which is the meanest thing a man can do. How then can I 新たにする my 約束／交戦 with Lesbia?”
“Because I wish you to,” said Mrs. Walker 敏速に, and bent her 黒人／ボイコット brows.
“I understood you hated her.”
“Indeed, I never did,” she 再結合させるd はっきりと. “How could I hate anyone whom I had never seen? Don’t be a fool, George. I certainly hated her father and I hate him still, for a very good 推論する／理由, which it does not 関心 you to know. But after I saw the girl I repented that I had not been to see her before, since you loved her. She is an innocent darling, and I should like no one better for my daughter. It would be 不公平な to visit the sins of the father on so 甘い a child.”
“Yet if the child wasn’t 甘い,” said George drily, “you would not mind doing so. You are somewhat inconsistent.”
“I am not so inconsistent as you are,” said his mother, skilfully 避けるing a reply by carrying the war into his （軍の）野営地，陣営. “What I wish to know is—why do you 拒絶する／低下する to 新たにする your 約束／交戦?”
“I have no money and no 状況／情勢.”
“That isn’t the true 推論する／理由.
“It is the 単独の 推論する／理由 which I choose to give.”
“There is no necessity to be rude, George,” said Mrs. Walker with 広大な／多数の／重要な dignity. “Cannot you get another 状況／情勢?”
“Not easily. Tait will give me no 言及／関連s, nor do I care to ask him for any. 状況／情勢s are hard to get without 言及／関連s.”
Mrs. Walker clasped her strong, white 手渡すs together and frowned. “It is やめる absurd that my son and the son of your father should be a mere clerk in the City,” she burst out. “Can’t you do something better?”
“No,” replied George gloomily. “I am not clever, and I have not been brought up to any 貿易（する）.”
“貿易（する）! 貿易（する）! My son in 貿易（する）.”
George was sad enough at heart, yet could not forbear smiling at the horror 表明するd on her countenance. “There is nothing disgraceful in 貿易（する）,” he 発言／述べるd 静かに. “My grandfather Morse was a merchant.”
“And your grandfather Casterton was an earl,” snapped Mrs. Walker. “There’s your uncle, the 現在の owner of the 肩書を与える. Why not go to him, and see if he cannot 補助装置 you?”
“And when I ask him, what excuse can I make?”
“He is your uncle: he has every 権利 to 補助装置 you.”
“I 恐れる he might not see things in the same light, mother. Besides I have no 資格s.” George paused, then 追加するd gloomily: “An out-of-door 植民地の life would 控訴 me. Give me enough to get to Canada or Australia, mother, and there I can carve my way.”
“What about me?” asked Mrs. Walker reproachfully.
“I would make a home for you beyond the seas and you can come out later.”
Mrs. Walker shook her 長，率いる. “I am too old to travel so far,” she said grimly, “moreover, I ーするつもりである to wait until I get the fortune of my sister. She is dead: I am sure from what Walter Hale says that there is no child, so in the end Jabez must give me the fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs. That money would put all things 権利: your marriage 含むd.”
“Not with Lesbia,” said the young man colouring. “There is no chance of our coming together. Besides, to get the money you must find that cross.”
“Nothing of the sort,” said his mother quickly, “Jabez only 要求するs its 生産／産物 by a possible child, as a means of 身元確認，身分証明, a very silly idea I call it. But he knows that I am Judith Morse, and so by my father’s will 相続する, now that my sister is dead.”
George shook his 長，率いる doggedly. “I believe that you will never get the fortune until that cross is 設立する.”
“Then find it.”
“I can’t. I have tried my best to learn who 強襲，強姦d me and robbed this cottage, but I am still in the dark.”
This ended the conversation for the time 存在. But as the days went by Mrs. Walker still continued to 表明する her disgust at George’s obstinacy regarding Lesbia. She knew that he still loved the girl, and could not think why he should 辞退する to 新たにする the 約束／交戦 in the 直面する of Lesbia’s letter. Of course the excuse of having no 状況／情勢 was rubbish, so Mrs. Walker decided, as Lesbia was willing to marry him without one penny. If he truly loved her, as she did him, poverty would be no 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業. When was poverty ever a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 to the union of two young hearts? Even admitting that George 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 供給する a home before 新たにするing the 約束／交戦, he surely could have seen Lesbia and explained his 推論する／理由s for behaving as he was doing. But he never went 近づく Marlow, and 辞退するd to について言及する her 指名する. As Mrs. Walker, 存在 as obstinate as her son, 主張するd on discussing his unfortunate love 事件／事情／状勢, and 口論する人ing over the same, George took to remaining for days in London on the 嘆願 that he was looking for work. Time thus passed very miserably for the grim 未亡人.
One day George （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する with the news that he had received a 公式文書，認める from Lord Charvington, asking him to call at The 法廷，裁判所, Maidenhead. Why he should wish to see him George could not guess, as he had never met him. But in the letter Charvington said that he had been a friend of Aylmer Walker, and so 願望（する）d the interview. Mrs. Walker was also puzzled. She was 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd with Lord Charvington, but after her scampish husband’s death she had kept away from the former society she たびたび（訪れる）d, on account of her poverty.
All the same, she advised George to keep the 任命, which was made for the next day, if only to hear what Charvington had to talk about.
It was strange, a coincidence in fact, that Lady Charvington’s モーター should stop on the afternoon of that very day at the gate of the Medmenham cottage. Never before to George’s knowledge had his mother について言及するd Lord Charvington’s 指名する, yet on the very day when it was on her lips, because of the letter, the wife of the nobleman arrived to 支払う／賃金 a visit. Why she should do so was not やめる （疑いを）晴らす, and Mrs. Walker entered the 製図／抽選-room with a frown. She and her sister Kate had been school-girls together, and she had never 認可するd of the lady. Her 迎える／歓迎するing was very 冷淡な.
“How are you, Helen?” she said, 延長するing the tips of her fingers. “It is a surprise to see you in my humble abode.”
“I would have called before, only I knew that you did not wish to see me, Judith,” said Lady Charvington, 沈むing gracefully into the nearest arm-議長，司会を務める; “but I have come on 商売／仕事.”
Mrs. Walker sat also, and 倍のd her 手渡すs on the （競技場の）トラック一周 of her 黒人／ボイコット dress with her usual grim smile. “Of course, I knew that you would not waste your 価値のある time in coming for nothing. But what 商売／仕事 you can have with me I fail to see. We were never good friends, and you 前向きに／確かに hated Kate because she was prettier than you.”
“She never was,” said Lady Charvington hotly, and ちらりと見ることd in the silver-でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd 手渡す-mirror, which stood on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at her 肘. “Kate had not my complexion, nor my hair.”
“Nor your 汚い temper,” snapped Mrs. Walker, who felt 極端に 汚い herself; “but I don’t know why we should talk of good looks at our age.”
“I am not old, Judith: you are older than I am.”
“やめる so, and I wear ever so much better. You look twice your age.”
Lady Charvington made a 直面する. “You were always a disagreeable girl,” she pouted, “I daresay I am growing no younger, but you need not tell me so. As to my looks, if you were as worried as I am, you would not look your best either. So I—who is that?” she 問い合わせd as George, ignorant that his mother had a 訪問者, tapped at the French window of the 製図／抽選-room.
“My son George,” said Mrs. Walker, rising to 収容する／認める him.
“Oh!” cried Lady Charvington vivaciously. “Lesbia’s George.”
“My son, Lady Charvington,” said Mrs. Walker, introducing the pair. “George, this is an old friend of 地雷.”
Lady Charvington looked at the splendidly handsome young man and 内密に envied her hostess. Neither of her children was so good-looking, and moreover, what she always regretted, she had 供給するd no 相続人 to the 肩書を与える.
“So you are Lesbia’s George,” she said again, not 申し込む／申し出ing her 手渡す, but putting up her lorgnette. “井戸／弁護士席, the girl has taste.”
George coloured under her impertinent gaze and at the sudden について言及する of Lesbia. He no more 推定する／予想するd Lady Charvington to について言及する the girl than he had 推定する／予想するd she would arrive on the very day when her 指名する had first been について言及するd in the cottage—that is, her husband’s 指名する. “What do you know of Lesbia, Lady Charvington?” he asked, taking a 議長，司会を務める.
She gave an 人工的な laugh. “Nothing very creditable.”
The young man started and grew an angry red. Mrs. Walker frowned, and making a 調印する that her son should be silent, spoke for him. “What do you mean by running 負かす／撃墜する the girl, Helen? Let me tell you that Lesbia’s 指名する must be について言及するd in this house only with 尊敬（する）・点.”
“Oh, I know that she loves your son, and that he loves her—unfortunately.”
“Why so?” asked George very 直接／まっすぐに, and still red with 怒り／怒る. He was beginning to dislike this pretty, perfumed, dainty woman, who looked as frivolous as his mother was stately.
“Because she is, I shrewdly 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う, a—a—” Lady Charvington hesitated, for the young man looked so angry, and Mrs. Walker so grim, that she 恐れるd to bring out the hateful word. “井戸／弁護士席, the fact is,” she 動揺させるd on, “I have lost an amethyst cross, and I believe this Lesbia Hale has taken it.”
“An amethyst cross,” repeated George, astonished, too much so in fact to repel the 告訴，告発 against Lesbia with the promptitude he wished. “A cross consisting of four amethyst 石／投石するs with a green cube of malachite in the centre 耐えるing a 栄冠を与える, and inscribed ‘辞退する and Lose’?”
“Yes.” Lady Charvington was astonished. “Do you know it?”
“Of course I do. It belongs to me.”
“To you. Impossible. It is, as I believe the 所有物／資産／財産 of Lord Charvington, and was stolen with other jewels from The 法廷，裁判所 a few days ago.”
“But how did it get to The 法廷，裁判所—how did it come into your 所有／入手?”
“It （機の）カム into my 所有／入手 a few weeks ago. I entered the library during my husband’s absence and 設立する this cross on his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Wondering why he had such a jewel, and thinking that he had bought it for me, I took it to my room. Charvington went away before I could speak to him about it and never made any 調査s—strange to say—as to its 存在 taken away, I placed it in my jewel 事例／患者, and forgot all about it. Then my 事例／患者 was stolen by two London thieves a few days ago, and the cross also.”
“You 宣言するd that Lesbia stole it,” said Mrs. Walker grimly, “and now you say that two thieves—”
“Lesbia was in league with them.”
George sprang to his feet. “That’s wholly 誤った, Lady Charvington. That is—” he became aware of his rudeness and stammered, “you—you must be mistaken.”
“I am never mistaken,” said the 訪問者 in icy トンs. “Your son has not very good manners, Judith.”
“They are my manners,” said Mrs. Walker ひどく, “and don’t you find fault with them. He has only said what I ーするつもりであるd to say, only more politely.”
Before Lady Charvington could snap out a reply, George, now very pale, 介入するd. “Perhaps, madam, you will explain upon what grounds you base this 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 against 行方不明になる Hale.”
“Oh, certainly,” 再結合させるd Lady Charvington はっきりと, “the whole world might know what I have to say, and the whole world would,” she 追加するd spitefully, “only my husband, who seems to have taken a fancy to this girl, has hushed up the 事柄.”
“He has more sense than you have,” muttered Mrs. Walker, “不正に as he 扱う／治療するd—” she checked herself with a 味方する ちらりと見ること at George, “but that is neither here nor there. Go on, Helen, and explain.”
Lady Charvington, ーするために make George writhe—for she saw that he loved Lesbia 深く，強烈に, and resented the fact—was only too ready to give 詳細（に述べる）s of the 強盗 at The 法廷，裁判所 with all the venom of which her very bitter tongue was 有能な. She 関係のある everything that had happened from the hour of Lesbia’s arrival, to the moment of her 出発. “And in 不名誉,” ended the lady exultingly, “certainly 私的な 不名誉, since for some silly 推論する／理由 Charvington made me 持つ／拘留する my tongue, but 不名誉 にもかかわらず. Now what do you think?”
“Think”—George, standing with a white 直面する and clenched 手渡すs, took the words out of his mother’s mouth—“I think that you are a very wicked woman, Lady Charvington. Lesbia is as innocent as a dove.”
“I know nothing of the morals of doves,” retorted Lady Charvington coolly, “but you seem to forget that I 明言する／公表するd how this girl’s father was one of the thieves. Who the other one was I can’t say, but Lesbia certainly recognised her father. Bertha, my maid, heard her exclamation, while she was lying half stunned on the 床に打ち倒す.”
“I am not astonished,” said Mrs. Walker 激しく. “Walter Hale is 有能な of all things, although I did not know that he would descend やめる so low. I never liked him as you did, Helen.”
“Leave the past alone,” said Lady Charvington with an angry gesture; “but you can see that this Lesbia creature was her father’s 共犯者.”
“Speak more respectfully of Lesbia if you please,” said George in a 冷淡な white fury. “She is perfectly innocent, and knew no more of her father’s wickedness than—”
“Than you did, I suppose.”
“You are wrong. I knew some weeks ago, that Walter Hale had to do with a ギャング（団） of thieves.”
“George,” cried his mother aghast; “you never told me.”
“There was no need to,” he said quickly, “I know that Hale, 事実上の／代理 by Tait’s orders, stole the jewels from—”
“Was this why you broke your 約束／交戦 with Lesbia, or rather why you would not 新たにする it?”
“That was the 推論する／理由,” said George awkwardly.
Mrs. Walker stood up 厳しく. “Then you believe that Lesbia is an 共犯者.”
“No, I don’t. My 推論する／理由 is different.”
“You 辞退する to marry the daughter of a どろぼう perhaps,” said Lady Charvington mockingly.
“I do not. My 推論する／理由—never mind. I can explain my 推論する／理由 to Lesbia when I see her,” said George, standing very straight and looking very 決定するd.
“You ーするつもりである to see her, then?” asked his mother.
“This very evening.”
“I shall come also,” said Mrs. Walker quickly.
“If that is so,” drawled Lady Charvington, “perhaps you will ask her what she has done with the cross.”
“She has not got it,” cried George. “How can she have it when you 宣言するd that her father stole it and—”
“Oh,” Lady Charvington laughed cruelly, “I daresay her father gave her the amethyst cross, as her 株 of the plunder.”
“Helen, 持つ／拘留する your bitter tongue,” cried Mrs. Walker wrathfully.
“If you speak of Lesbia in that way, or dare to smirch her fair fame,” said George very deliberately, “I shall make it my 商売／仕事 to make things unpleasant all 一連の会議、交渉／完成する.”
“As how?” asked Lady Charvington, putting up her lorgnette.
“To-morrow I am to see Lord Charvington by 任命—”
“I was not aware that you knew my husband.”
“I do not, but he wrote to me, and I am to see him.”
“Ah!” drawled Lady Charvington coolly, “perhaps knowing that you love this wretched girl my husband ーするつもりであるs to arrange that you shall marry her and take her out of the country.”
The young man 抑制するd his 怒り／怒る by a violent 成果／努力. “Perhaps you are 訂正する, madam,” he said in a 厚い 発言する／表明する and breathing hard. “But I shall also ask Lord Charvington how the cross （機の）カム to be in his 所有／入手.”
“No!” Lady Charvington shrieked and seemed much perturbed. “You must not do that.”
“Madam,” said George in a stately manner and に引き続いて up his advantage, “I am the owner of that cross, which was given to me by 行方不明になる Hale. I was 強襲，強姦d on the 牽引するing-path so that I might be robbed of it. As the どろぼう did not find it on my person he burgled this cottage and took it from my room. I have every 権利 to ask Lord Charvington how he became 所有するd of it.”
The 訪問者 rose with rather a pale 直面する but やめる composed, and shook perfume from her 高くつく／犠牲の大きい draperies as she gathered up her 所持品 to 出発／死. “Things are bad for Lesbia Hale as it is,” she said composedly. “I advise you to ask no questions of my husband, or he may 身を引く his 保護 from her. If he does, she is 不名誉d, 公然と.”
“I don’t believe it,” said Mrs. Walker, crossing to the window and 開始 it. “You can leave my cottage by this way, Helen, and the sooner the better.”
Lady Charvington swept に向かって the French window with a careless laugh, 明白に 軍隊d. “I am only too willing to go,” she 宣言するd. “I only （機の）カム over to ask you to question Lesbia Hale as to what she has done with my amethyst cross.”
“地雷, 容赦 me,” said George 堅固に, as he held the window open, “and you may be sure that I shall marry Lesbia and 保護する Lesbia even against you who seem to hate her, Heaven only knows why.”
“Your mother knows,” sneered Lady Charvington. “井戸／弁護士席, do what you like, only remember that I have 警告するd you!” and with these ominous words she took her welcome 出発.
“What is next to be done?” asked Mrs. Walker, when the モーター hummed away.
“We must see Lesbia,” said George 堅固に. “What has been said brings us together at last.”
When Lesbia returned to Rose Cottage, after her unlucky visit to The 法廷，裁判所, she 設立する that her father had never been 近づく the place. Tim, who was alone in the house when she arrived, explained that Hale had gone to London within an hour of Lesbia’s 出発 with Lady Charvington in the モーター car. There was nothing in this to surprise the little Irishman, as Hale’s comings and goings were always more or いっそう少なく abrupt. But he was amazed and startled when he heard what Lesbia had to tell; the 発覚 存在 occasioned by Tim’s 苦しめるd 発言／述べる on the girl’s pallor.
“Ah now, 行方不明になる, an’ what hey ye 貯蔵所 doin’ wid yer purty silf at all, at all? Sure the 直面する av ye’s as white as a carpse.”
Lesbia burst into 涙／ほころびs. “Oh Tim, I いつかs wish that I was one, for I feel so very 哀れな. George will have nothing to do with me; Lady Charvington hates me, and my father, my father—”
“Phwat av him?” asked Tim anxiously.
“Can’t you guess?” asked Lesbia, 乾燥した，日照りのing her 注目する，もくろむs, and wondering how much or how little the man knew of Hale’s rascalities.
Tim’s 直面する remained passive, but he could not keep a 確かな 量 of 苦悩 out of his 注目する，もくろむs. “Sure, the masther isn’t a good man,” he said in a hesitating manner, “he trates ye like a brute baste, 行方不明になる.”
“It’s worse than that,” sobbed Lesbia, breaking 負かす／撃墜する again.
The servant changed colour and raised his 手渡すs in mute despair. When he did find his 発言する／表明する, it was to ask a 主要な question. “An’ how much do ye know, me dear?”
“I know that my father is a どろぼう.”
“Augh! the shame av it,” muttered Tim, but did not 否定する.
Lesbia noticed that he was いっそう少なく surprised than he should have been. “You knew that.”
“Mary be good to us all!” said Tim sadly. “But I know a mighty lot I’d rather not know, me dear. But are ye sure, 行方不明になる?”
Lesbia sat up, 乾燥した，日照りのd her 注目する，もくろむs, and 詳細（に述べる）d all that had happened. Tim listened in 狼狽d silence with his sad 注目する，もくろむs on her pale 直面する, and she heard him grind his teeth when it （機の）カム to an account of Lady Charvington’s 告訴，告発. When she ended he still kept silence.
“What do you think of it all, Tim?” asked his mistress, anxious to hear what he had to say.
“It’s 黒人／ボイコット lies that woman spakes,” cried Tim 熱心に. “Ye nivir knew av the masther’s wrongdoin’.”
“Did you, Tim?”
“I knew a trifle, an’ guessed a mighty lot. Nivir ask me, 行方不明になる, phwat I know till his lardship—an’ sure he’s a good man—spakes the wurrd. But I know 病弱な thing, me dear heart, that the blackest clouds have the blissid sun behint thim.”
“There is no sun behind these clouds,” said Lesbia, sighing.
“An’ there yer wrong, 行方不明になる,” said Tim briskly. “Sure, whin them clouds do let the blissid sun sind out th’ light av him, ye’ll foind pace an’ happiness an’ joy galore. Lave things to his lardship. The crass began the throuble, an’ the crass will end that same.”
“Tim! Tim, what do you know about the cross?”
“Ah, nivir ask me phwat I know,” croaked Tim again. “There’s 鯨s within 鯨s, me dear, an’ me mouth’s 貯蔵所 saled fur many a year. But whin his lardship spakes I spake, and thin ye’ll be as happy as thim who dwell in Tirnanoge.”
“What’s that, Tim?”
“The land av 青年 where ye and Masther Garge shud be, an’ will be, whin the blissid saints in glory let ye come into ye’r own.” And after 配達するing himself of this agreeable prophecy, Tim shuffled away to 準備する dinner.
Lesbia was much astonished at the hints thus given, and also much perplexed. Tim seemed to know of the significance of the amethyst cross, of the rascality of her father, and also he appeared to know about Lord Charvington as a possible deus ex machina, who would make the crooked やめる straight. Later in the evening she questioned the little man 断固としてやる, but Tim, as wily as an カワウソ, 避けるd a direct reply, only 主張するing that everything would come 権利 in a most 予期しない way. With this Lesbia would scarcely have been content, but that her attention was taken away from the 未来 to を取り引きする the 現在の.
勧めるd by Tim, and now feeling more 希望に満ちた as she 解任するd Charvington’s 約束 to stand by her, Lesbia made a moderately good dinner. While Tim was washing up in the kitchen, she sat 近づく the window of the tiny parlour reading the first 調書をとる／予約する that （機の）カム to 手渡す. But the pages did not 利益／興味 her and, moreover, it soon grew too dark to read without lights. Lesbia did not call for these, as she liked the pensive twilight, and so dreamed of George and 未来 happiness in the gloaming. There was just light enough to see across the room, so she started with surprise and indignation when she saw her father suddenly appear in the doorway. He looked much the same as usual, but then the light was not strong enough to 許す her to see the shame which must certainly have appeared on his 直面する.
“Why have you come here?” asked Lesbia, rising indignantly.
“I have assuredly a 権利 to enter my own house,” retorted her father.
“It is not your house,” she replied boldly. “Lord Charvington told me that it belonged to him, and 宣言するd that you would come here no more.”
“Ah!” Hale lounged into the room, and dropped with a sigh of 疲労，（軍の）雑役 into a 議長，司会を務める. “Charvington 提案するd more than he could 成し遂げる; he always did.”
“How did you come in?”
“By the 支援する door, which was open. I 列／漕ぐ／騒動d up from Cookham.”
“You can’t stop here,” said Lesbia 堅固に.
“You can’t 妨げる me,” said her father, with a sneer.
“I can leave the house, and I will.”
“Where will you go?”
“To Mrs. Walker; she will 保護する me. I will throw myself on her mercy. But I 辞退する to remain under the same roof as you.”
Hale winced at the 軽蔑（する） in her トンs. “You seem to forget that you are speaking to your father,” he said in an icy manner.
“God help me!” cried the girl, with a gesture of despair; “I wish I could forget. You have brought shame upon me.”
“Oh, rubbish,” said Hale crossly. “I received a letter from Charvington in London just before I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to Cookham which 明言する／公表するd that if I 回復するd the jewels everything would be hushed up.”
“And you will do so?”
“I have to,” said Hale grudgingly. “It’s an infernal nuisance after all my trouble, but Charvington says that he will 始める，決める the police on my 跡をつける if I don’t 行為／法令／行動する square. I shall return the jewels to-morrow, and then everything will be put 権利. There is no 不名誉 to you.”
“Isn’t there?” said Lesbia, with a bitter laugh. “You appear to have forgotten that Bertha, the maid, heard my 承認 of you, and told her mistress. Lady Charvington （刑事）被告 me of 存在 your 共犯者, and but that our cousin made her 持つ／拘留する her tongue and silenced the maid, I should have been 逮捕（する）d as knowing your rogueries and 株ing in them.”
Hale muttered an 誓い between his teeth. “Upon my word that’s too bad,” he said half apologetically. “The woman had no 権利 to speak of you in that way, as you are as innocent as a babe. However, if Charvington has hushed that up also, there is no 害（を与える） done.”
“Father,” cried Lesbia, moving 今後 to 直面する him, “can you think that I will 同意 to live with you, now that I know of your wickedness?”
“What do you know, other than that I took Lady Charvington’s jewels?” asked her father, defiantly.
“I know that you stole Mr. Tait’s jewels by his direction.”
“Who dares to say that?” 需要・要求するd Hale, starting ひどく to his feet.
“Mr. Canning—”
“Mister,” sneered Hale, savagely, “since when has he earned such 尊敬（する）・点.”
“Mr. Canning is a gentleman and Captain Sargent’s brother,” said Lesbia in 静める, 平易な トンs. Now that she had come to の近くに 支配するs with her father she felt singularly 冷静な／正味の.
Hale muttered a second 誓い. “I knew that The 影をつくる／尾行する had betrayed us,” he said ominously; “井戸／弁護士席, he shall 支払う／賃金 for his treachery. His silly 感謝 to you for nursing him has made him dishonourable to us.”
“Dishonourable!” cried Lesbia, scornfully.
“Why not?” scoffed her father, “There is honour amongst thieves.”
“And you are a どろぼう.”
“I am,” said Hale, shamelessly. “I was driven to such courses because I 手配中の，お尋ね者 money. You may 同様に know the worst, for I—”
“Oh!” Lesbia threw up her 手渡す, feeling sick at heart. “Don’t tell me any more. Leave this house and never see me again.”
Hale settled himself 堅固に in his 議長，司会を務める. “I will do nothing of the sort,” he 宣言するd; “this is my house, whatever Charvington may say. Here I am and here I 残り／休憩（する）. There’s a French 兵士’s 説 for you,” he sneered.
“Oh,” Lesbia sighed as she looked up, “will nothing make this man ashamed?”
“Nothing!” Hale put his 脚s up on another 議長，司会を務める, “絶対 nothing.”
At this moment there （機の）カム a sharp （犯罪の）一味 of the 前線 door bell. Hale started to his feet with an ejaculation, and Lesbia could guess that his shameless 直面する had turned white in the shadowy twilight. 明らかに he 推定する／予想するd the police, as she gathered from his broken mutterings. “But it is impossible,” he breathed, clenching his 手渡すs; “Charvington said that he would say nothing if the jewels were sent 支援する. I shall send them to-morrow, and if there is a—ah!”
The two listening in the half-dark room heard Tim shuffle along the 狭くする passage and open the door. A moment later and Mrs. Walker’s 発言する／表明する, 冷淡な and haughty, struck on their ears. Hale wiped his 直面する and heaved a sigh of 救済. “Don’t betray me to that woman,” he whispered.
“I shall not,” said Lesbia, 静かに, “after all, bad as you are, I cannot forget that you are my father.”
Even as the last word dropped from her mouth, the door opened and Mrs. Walker was 勧めるd into the room. Behind her （機の）カム Tim 耐えるing high a lamp to light her way. The radiance 明らかにする／漏らすd Lesbia white and 縮むing and the 反抗的な 直面する of Walter Hale.
“The masther, howly saints!” muttered Tim, setting 負かす／撃墜する the lamp; then he 演説（する）／住所d Lesbia, 静かに: “Will I bring more lights, 行方不明になる, av ye plase?”
“No thank you, Tim, this lamp will be enough. Shut the door.”
Without a 選び出す／独身 ちらりと見ること at his master, Tim 出発／死d and left the trio together. Mrs. Walker, standing just within the room, had said nothing. Only when the door was の近くにd did she speak. “I did not 推定する／予想する to find you here, Mr. Hale,” she said with contempt and scarcely 隠すd surprise.
“And where should I be, save in my own house?” he asked, lightly.
“In gaol,” she snapped, “and there you would be, had I my way.”
Hale raised his eyebrows. “I do not understand,” he 発言／述べるd, coolly.
“Yes, you do, and you will understand 完全に when I tell you that Lady Charvington （機の）カム to see me to-day.” Hale uttered an exclamation of 激怒（する） and vexation. “Yes, you may 井戸／弁護士席 断言する, for she told both George and myself about the 強盗 at The 法廷，裁判所. What do you say to that, you （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd scoundrel?” she asked, 厳しく.
“Hush!” he muttered, gruffly, “my daughter is 現在の.”
“I am glad she is, I want her to know what you are.”
“I do know,” 滞るd Lesbia, weakly, “and oh!”—she covered her 直面する to 沈む in a passion of 涙／ほころびs on the sofa—“it is shameful: shameful.”
Mrs. Walker looked at Hale, still 反抗的な and hard-直面するd. “I would have spared you this for the girl’s sake,” she breathed, “but she caught you 現行犯で, so there is nothing to 隠す.” With a 厳しい look at him, she glided to the sofa and took the 縮むing, 壊れやすい form of the unhappy girl in her strong 武器: “Lesbia, my love,” she said tenderly, and the change in her 発言する／表明する was 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の, “I have come to stand by you. That man is not fit to have 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of you. Come with me, to-night, to Medmenham.”
“Oh no—no—George—”
“George knows all that you know, that I know. He was 現在の when Lady Charvington （機の）カム to tell us of what had taken place.”
“And George despises me,” wept Lesbia, burying her 直面する in Mrs. Walker’s bosom.
“Don’t be ridiculous, child, don’t be foolish. How can he despise you when you are innocent and he loves you?”
“Loves me—loves me,” Lesbia looked up startled; “but he 辞退するd to 新たにする our 約束／交戦 although I abased myself to the dust to 回復する him.”
“I think George will be able to explain why he 行為／法令／行動するd in that way,” she whispered. “In a few minutes you will 会合，会う George under the chestnut tree where he 提案するd to you. It’s an idea of his that he should explain himself there and there 新たにする the 約束／交戦. We both arranged to come here to-night and were to 運動 over. But at the last moment George took to his boat and is now 列／漕ぐ／騒動ing 負かす／撃墜する the river to 会合，会う you under the trysting-tree. I drove over.”
“Oh!” Lesbia sat up, smiles breaking through her 涙／ほころびs. This was a gleam of 日光 indeed. “George is coming 支援する.”
“He will 持つ／拘留する you in his 武器 very すぐに,” said Mrs. Walker, her hard 直面する becoming strangely tender. “You poor dear child, how cruelly you have been 扱う／治療するd. But the worst is over: you shall marry my George and be happy.”
“Indeed,” said Hale in an acrid, thin 発言する／表明する. “I am not to be 協議するd then?”
Mrs. Walker placed Lesbia tenderly 支援する on the sofa and arranged the cushion. Then she turned, hard and 厳しい once more to the delinquent. “You are not to be 協議するd about Lesbia,” she said calmly, “as you are unfit to have anything to do with her. But I have come to 協議する you about the amethyst cross.”
“I know nothing about it,” said Hale, starting and biting his nether lip.
“That’s a 嘘（をつく）,” said Mrs. Walker ひどく. “Lady Charvington 設立する the cross in her husband’s library, where he had left it, and thinking that he had bought it for her, placed it in her jewel-事例／患者. As you stole the 事例／患者 you must have the cross. Give it to me at once. I want it.”
“I know nothing about it,” said Hale doggedly and raising his 激しい 注目する，もくろむs, “you are wrong—the cross was not with the jewels. I shall send them 支援する to Lord Charvington to-morrow, as only by my 回復するing them will he agree not to 起訴する. Charvington will show you the 事例／患者, and you will see that there is no cross amongst them.”
“I やめる believe that,” said Mrs. Walker, scornfully, “because you ーするつもりである to keep it 支援する. What use it is to you I can’t say, as in no way can you 得る my sister’s money.”
Hale scowled and, stretching out his 脚s, slipped his 手渡すs into his pockets. He was perfectly dressed as usual in a 冷静な／正味の tweed 控訴, and looked in the half light a very handsome and presentable man. No one would have taken him for a sordid どろぼう. “I have not the cross,” was all he could say, “it was not with the jewels. I don’t know where it is.”
“Lord Charvington—”
“If he had it in his library he must have robbed your cottage to get it, and also must have 強襲，強姦d your son. I wonder you can stand that,” said Hale with a sneer, “特に since you have a 得点する／非難する／２０ against the man as it is. But then you are so 許すing.”
“You will not find me so,” said Mrs. Walker caustically. “As to Charvington, I believe he was more sinned against than sinning. I shall speak of that when we 会合，会う. As it is, my feelings に向かって him have relented so far as to 許す my son to see him to-morrow.”
“What!” asked Lesbia, who had sat 静かに during this passage of 武器, “is George going over to The 法廷，裁判所?”
“Yes. Lord Charvington sent him a message asking him to call. What he wishes to see him about I cannot guess.”
“I know: I know,” cried the girl joyfully. “I told him about George and how George had lost his 状況／情勢 through a 誤った 告訴，告発. Lord Charvington said that he would see George and get him something to do, so that we might marry.”
“Oh that’s it, is it?” said Mrs. Walker, smiling and smoothing the girl’s hair.
“Will you let your son 受託する favours from Charvington?” asked Hale sneeringly, “from the man who—”
“That is やめる enough,” said Mrs. Walker, imperiously. “I will have an explanation with Lord Charvington. I believe from the 底（に届く） of my heart that you were the 原因（となる） of all the trouble between us. But it strikes me,” Mrs. Walker gathered her mantle 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her and sat with 倍のd 武器 like a grim and pitiless 運命／宿命, “that you are 近づくing the end, Mr. Walter Hale. 運命 has been 肉親，親類d to you so far: she will be 肉親，親類d no longer. I see,” Mrs. Walker 星／主役にするd at Hale’s twitching 直面する; “I see 監禁，拘置: I see death: I see—”
“Oh damn your Witch of Endor rubbish,” shouted Hale, jumping to his feet with the perspiration beading his brow, for he was impressed by the 絶対の 有罪の判決 with which she spoke. “You talk nonsense, infernal nonsense. And see here, you shall not 干渉する between my daughter and—”
“I will do as I please and so shall Lesbia,” said Mrs. Walker, interrupting the vehement speech. “You forget that you are only 捕まらないで because of Lord Charvington’s 拒絶 to 起訴する. If you meddle with this marriage as you have done, he will lay you by the heels. Yes, you and your ギャング（団）.”
“My ギャング（団）?” Hale swallowed something and laughed uneasily, “my ギャング（団）?”
“You and Tait and Maud Ellis and Sargent and that 哀れな あへん-smoking brother of his. You are all rogues and thieves and—”
“You can 証明する nothing of all this,” interrupted Hale, now やめる livid.
“George can,” said Mrs. Walker nodding 意味ありげに. “He has seen the man Canning, whom you call The 影をつくる／尾行する, although his real 指名する is Arthur Sargent.”
“Oh!” Lesbia rose quickly, “Has Mr. Canning seen George?”
“Yes, and he has told much which your precious father would like to be hidden,” said Mrs. Walker 静かに.
Hale laughed and wiped his brow. “All the same,” he said, wetting his 乾燥した，日照りの lips, “I am Lesbia’s father after all. If you 不名誉 me, you 不名誉 her, so I am やめる 安全な.”
“That is 権利, hide behind a woman’s petticoats,” said Mrs. Walker 激しく, “it was always your custom. Now you come with me,” she rose. “I have something to say to you and it must be said out of doors. Lesbia, go into the garden and see George.”
“I’ll come,” said Hale 敏速に enough, “I am not afraid of 逮捕（する）; I know too much. After you, madam,” and he held the door open mockingly.
Ordinarily speaking Lesbia would have anxiously を待つd the 結論 of Mrs. Walker’s out-of-door interview with her father. But when she saw them stroll away in the moonlight, she suddenly remembered that George was waiting in the garden to explain. Probably the interview asked by Mrs. Walker had 単に been an excuse to get Hale out of the way so that he might not interrupt the lovers’ 会合, as he assuredly would do if left to his own marplot 装置s. Lesbia, therefore, saw that it was foolish to waste the golden hour, when it had been so propitiously brought about. の近くにing the 前線 door, she ran 速く along the passage into the garden and sped lightly 負かす／撃墜する the grass-grown path. In another minute she was under the tree and in George’s 武器.
The night was lovely with moonlight and radiant with 星／主役にするs. In the neglected garden roses red and white and yellow breathed fragrance into the still, warm 空気／公表する of summer. There was not a breath of 勝利，勝つd and the ripples on the 幅の広い river were only formed by the 滑らかに-flowing 現在の. It murmured softly between the green banks and was an accompaniment to the 時折の song of the nightingales, which spoke one to the other in the garden and across the river. At the 夜明け of love, the blackbird had fluted his song of joy, when the sky was blue and the 日光 was glorious. Now the sleeping world was bathed mysteriously in silver under a starry ドーム, and the nightingale sang a diviner song. Through much 悲しみ had they come to a better understanding of love, and the liquid 公式文書，認めるs of the immortal bird alone could 解釈する／通訳する the nobler feelings which trouble had begotten. In George’s 武器 lay Lesbia, 安全な at last in the 港／避難所 of love, and the night sent upon them a benediction in the song of the bird.
“But you have been very, very cruel,” said Lesbia softly. Woman-like she was the first to find her tongue.
“I might say the same of you, dear,” whispered George, sitting 負かす／撃墜する and 集会 her closer in his 武器, “but neither of us was cruel. Circumstances are to 非難する.”
Lesbia, knowing that there was no period to the golden hour now that her father was out of the way, settled herself comfortably for a long talk. She had much to tell and much to ask, and before the rapture of love’s silence could be 新たにするd there was much to explain. “I know that I behaved very 不正に,” she whispered penitently, “but I could not help it. Unless I had broken our 約束／交戦, my father told me that Maud Ellis would 公然と非難する you as a どろぼう.”
“I understand, dearest; but you did not believe that I was 有罪の?”
“No,” Lesbia 圧力（をかける）d her cheek against his, “of course I didn’t: but if I had not been cruel I should not have been 肉親，親類d. I could not 危険 Maud’s 告発する／非難するing you 公然と. But perhaps,” 追加するd the girl, hopefully, “she would not have done so, and I was weak to be so cajoled by her and by my father.”
“I think you 行為／法令／行動するd wisely,” said George, after a pause. “Maud led me into a 罠（にかける） and certainly would not have let me out again until I agreed to marry her, or at least until you gave me up. You did so and she was content for the time 存在. She could part us, my 甘い, but she could not make me 誤った to you.”
“I knew it, in spite of your cruel letter.”
“It was as cruel as yours, Lesbia, so we can cry やめるs on that 得点する／非難する／２０. I know that you learned the truth through Canning. He explained to me, and spoke very gratefully of your 親切 to him in his illness.”
“How did you 会合，会う him, George?”
“He met me. That is, he wrote to me at Medmenham asking me to see him in the City as he had something important to tell me. We met in a メッカ.”
“A メッカ?”
“One of those 地下組織の coffee-rooms in London City, dear. There Canning, or rather Sargent as he really is, explained.”
“He told you who he was?”
“Yes! And he told me also that Tait was connected with a ギャング（団） of thieves, two members of which had robbed Tait’s strong-room with his 黙認. Tait thus got the 保険 money in 新規加入 to the jewels which he sold on the Continent. He made about forty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs over the 取引，協定 and, after 支払う／賃金ing his 共犯者s, had enough left to 回避する a 財政上の 危機, which was the 推論する／理由 for the 強盗.”
“Did you know then that my father was a どろぼう?” asked Lesbia, shuddering.
“Of course not.”
“I thought you did know, and for that 推論する／理由 had thrown me over.”
“Lesbia,” George said 熱心に, and 圧力（をかける）d her so 堅固に to his breast that she almost cried out with the delicious 苦痛; “how can you think so meanly of me? Were you the daughter of a 殺害者 I should marry you. It is you whom I love, my dearest, and not all the fathers and 罪，犯罪s in the world will ever separate us.”
“Yet something parted us for a time.”
“Your letter.”
“That at first,” 定評のある Lesbia, sighing at the memory of what she had been 軍隊d to 令状, “then yours. Oh, George, when I made it plain that Maud—the horrid girl—could do nothing, why didn’t you come 支援する to me?”
“Because Maud was too clever. Finding out that she could not 告発する／非難する me, since Canning could 証明する my innocence, Maud played a bold game and told me that your father had robbed Tait’s strong-room. She swore that if I did not 令状 to you, as you had written to me, she would 公然と非難する Mr. Hale and have him put in 刑務所，拘置所. Lesbia,” George suddenly slipped from the seat and knelt at the girl’s feet 持つ／拘留するing her 手渡すs tightly, “what could I do in the circumstances but 令状 as Maud dictated? I did not dare to let her bring this shame on you.”
“But you could have explained your 推論する／理由?”
“No, dear, no. Maud was too smart for that. She 主張するd that I should give no explanation, hoping that out of pique you would throw me over and marry Sargent as your father 願望（する）d. He was in the 陰謀（を企てる） also. I had to let things stand, as I was helpless; but I 信用d that your heart would guess the truth. I was always true to you; I have always been. But you no 疑問 thought me 誤った from that letter, as I thought you heartless from the way in which you wrote. Now I can see, you can see, that neither one of us is to 非難する. We were the sport of circumstances.”
Lesbia bent and kissed his yellow hair. “I understand now,” she said softly, “but, oh George, how could Maud Ellis or my father think that I would marry Captain Sargent, a mere 陳謝 for a man, and hardly that even?”
“They hoped to work on your feelings; to wear you out, my dear. But had you become engaged to that dandy scoundrel I should have stopped any possible marriage by 公然と非難するing Sargent as a member of Tait’s ギャング（団）.”
“Is he, George?” asked Lesbia quickly, and she remembered what Mrs. Walker had said in the 製図／抽選-room.
“Yes! Canning—his brother, you know—did not tell me everything, but he 明らかにする／漏らすd a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定. Sargent is in society and 提起する／ポーズをとるs as a man of good family living on his fortune. He is 井戸／弁護士席-born, but he has no money save what he 得るs by 窃盗.”
Lesbia shuddered, “How horrible; how sordid. And my father?” her 発言する／表明する sank.
“He is in the swim also, so are Maud Ellis and Tait. Indeed, I believe that Tait is the 長，率いる of the whole infernal 商売／仕事. But that I knew your father was in with the lot and that I wished to spare you, I would have gone to the police at once.”
“Oh!” Lesbia’s 涙／ほころびs dropped on her lover’s 手渡す, “how dreadful it all is.”
George knelt before her and drew her 長，率いる 負かす／撃墜する on his shoulder. “There, there, dear!” he said, gently 乾燥した，日照りのing her 注目する，もくろむs, “don’t worry; we’ll be married soon, and then you will be taken away from this terrible life.”
“Tim also,” murmured Lesbia tearfully, “I can’t leave Tim behind.”
“Of course he’ll come too,” said George cheerily, “I don’t believe that he knew anything of the rascality that was going on.”
“I think he did,” said Lesbia doubtfully, “not that he is wicked himself. But he knew and, I believe, held his dear tongue for my sake.”
“Tim would do anything for you, darling, in the same way as Canning would.”
“Poor Mr. Canning—I mean Mr. Sargent.”
“No, don’t call him by his real 指名する; he wishes to be known 簡単に as Canning—The 影をつくる／尾行する. He belongs to the ギャング（団） and so does that Mrs. Petty who was 始める，決める to watch you.”
“A dreadful woman,” said Lesbia, nestling, “how I disliked her. But I am sorry that Mr. Canning is wicked, George. He has been so 肉親，親類d.”
“親切 begets 親切,” said Walker sententiously, “and I don’t think Canning is so very wicked. He has been unlucky all his life and drifted from bad to worse until he took to smoking あへん. That finished him, and he was on the streets when his brother—who always kept his 長，率いる, in spite of his silly looks—took him up, and made him his servant. Canning does a lot of the dirty work of the ギャング（団）, and did not 公然と非難する them as he would only be thrown again on the world. Also the ギャング（団） would certainly do him 害（を与える） if the fact of his betraying them became known.”
“And it is known, George. I am sure of it; because Mr. Canning told me to について言及する his 指名する to Maud Ellis. If she is a member of the ギャング（団）, she must have told the 残り／休憩（する） about the betrayal.”
“I daresay that is why Canning went into hiding,” said George thoughtfully; “however, all we can do is to leave him to を取り引きする the 事柄. For your sake I can say nothing since your father—”
“George,” Lesbia sat up and placed her 手渡すs on his shoulders, as he knelt at her feet, “your mother told me that you were going to see Lord Charvington to-morrow.”
Walker nodded. “It is true, though I don’t know what he wishes to see me about. I don’t know him; I never met him.”
“I have met him, and I know him,” said Lesbia 熱望して, “and he is the kindest and best man in the world. He wants to help us, George, and to get you something to do so that we may marry. Now you must ask him to 前進する you money to go to Australia or Canada, and we can marry before we go. Then we can start a new life.”
“I 示唆するd something of that sort to my mother, but she was averse from leaving England. Still, she may change her mind.”
“She must, and she can come also,” said Lesbia 熱心に. “Oh, George, don’t you see that I cannot remain in England? Even if my father escapes this time, as he will, because Lord Charvington is so 肉親，親類d, he is sure to be 設立する out some day. Then think of the 不名誉. I should always be unhappy thinking of what might happen. No, George, if you love me, let us marry and place the ocean between this 哀れな old life and the happy new one which we are sure to have together. Say yes, dear George, say yes.”
“I do, I do. I think your idea is excellent, and you must 説得する my mother to 行為／法令／行動する in this way. To-morrow I shall 示唆する our 計画（する） to Lord Charvington. I daresay he will give us enough to go away with and then I shall soon earn enough to 支払う／賃金 him 支援する. Yes, dear,” George rose, looking tall and stalwart in the moonlight, “we shall begin a new life together and leave all this wickedness behind us.”
Lesbia rose also and clung to her tall lover like an ivy to an oak. “I believe that everything will come 権利 at last,” she 宣言するd joyfully, “as Tim says it will. Only he 追加するd that the cross began it and the cross must end it, whatever that may mean.”
George shook his 長，率いる. “I can’t explain the cross,” he said doubtfully, “it is all very mysterious. Lord Charvington had it in his 所有／入手 によれば his wife. And yet I cannot think that Charvington would commit a 押し込み強盗. He,” George smiled 概して, “cannot かもしれない belong to the ギャング（団）. However, it was stolen with the jewels, so your father—”
“He has not got it, George. He told your mother that he had not got it.”
“Then either your father or Lady Charvington is telling a 嘘（をつく）. However, I shall learn the truth when I see him to-morrow. And now, dear, you must go in, as it grows late.”
“No,” said Lesbia, petulantly. “I have to wait here until your mother comes to us. She went out to talk with my father. George,” she 追加するd, after a pause, “I wonder what your mother knows about my father.”
“Nothing very good, you may be 確かな ,” said Walker grimly. “She must know him as a very clever rogue. By the way, Lesbia, do you know how your father and Sargent escaped 発見 when they robbed Tait’s strong-room.”
“Was Captain Sargent the other—どろぼう?” said Lesbia, shivering at the horrible sound of the word.
“Yes. He and your father arranged with Tait. Maud knew of the 協定 and used it to inveigle me into a 罠（にかける）. Her chloroform 商売／仕事 was all a 偽の, if you will 許す the slang. Tait gave the 重要な and the two 簡単に opened the strong-room and （疑いを）晴らすd with the jewels. When I 追求するd them they dodged into the 支持を得ようと努めるd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the house, and then entered the house again by a door which they had left open. Then, after putting away the jewels in Tait’s own 私的な room, they （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する and joined the other guests in the search. Very clever of them, wasn’t it, dear?”
“Oh, don’t, don’t!” cried Lesbia, catching his 手渡す and looking white and 病弱な. “It’s so terrible to think that my own father should do this. Why have I such a father?” she asked, raising her 注目する，もくろむs in despair to the moon. “What have I done to have such a father?”
“Hush, hush, dear,” George 圧力（をかける）d her to him. “Think no more of him. He is not worthy of you.”
“He was never affectionate to me,” sobbed Lesbia, whose 神経s were やめる unstrung, as might have been 推定する／予想するd after what she had undergone. “We never understood each other. I was never drawn to him. Why, oh, why?”
George caught the 手渡すs she was wringing, 堅固に in his warm, 肉親，親類d clasp.
“My dearest, listen to me,” he said softly. “You have been unhappy in the past, but you shall be happy in the 未来. Let your father fade out of your life, and come with me to the land of love. It is said that a woman shall forsake her parents and 粘着する to her husband. So,” said George, 製図／抽選 himself up, “you are 地雷 for ever, and when we are married it will be my delight to make you perfectly happy.”
“Ah, yes, but the 影をつくる／尾行する of the past will ever remain. After all, he is my father. I can’t do away with that,” and she continued to sob.
The young man could only 圧力（をかける） her to his 苦しめるd heart and smooth her hair. After all, what could he say in the 直面する of facts? Wicked and 冷淡な and hard and cruel as the man was, Hale undoubtedly was the girl’s father, and nothing could do away with the painful fact. But for that 関係, George would have throttled Hale, or would have thrown him into the river; but as it was, he could do nothing. He could not even 慰安 his dear love who lay sobbing in his 武器. The nightingale still sang on, the 星／主役にするs still twinkled like jewels and the moon still 注ぐd floods of white light 負かす／撃墜する on the sleeping earth. But the magical glory of the scene was darkened to the lovers because of the evil of those around them. Yet—and Lesbia learned the lesson afterwards—out of 悲しみ comes joy and the way of love is the way of the cross. Something like this （機の）カム into the young man’s mind.
“Remember the motto of the amethyst cross,” he whispered. “‘辞退する and lose’; we cannot understand why we are so afflicted, but we must 耐える the cross if we are to 勝利，勝つ the 栄冠を与える. And after all, dear, you should be sorry as I am for your father. He is 得るing much grief and 苦痛 for his （種を）蒔くing.”
Lesbia sighed and placed her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する George’s neck. “Yes,” she said in a 疲れた／うんざりした manner, “the cross is 激しい, but we must 耐える it. I am sure that in the end all will come 権利. Tim said so and so did Lord Charvington.”
負かす／撃墜する the pathway （機の）カム Mrs. Walker, looking tall and stately and 厳しい in her dark 式服s. Her 直面する was 始める，決める and white, and—strange in so hard a woman—she looked as though she had been weeping. “Lesbia,” she said softly, “come 支援する to the cottage and go to bed.”
“But my father is there,” sobbed the girl, “and you 約束d to take me to Medmenham.”
“Your father has left the cottage for a time at least,” said Mrs. Walker, gently 解放する／撤去させるing the girl from her son’s 武器. “You will be alone with Tim and he will look after you, until we see how things turn out.”
“How did you induce Mr. Hale to go, mother?” asked George, looking troubled.
“That is not for you to know at 現在の,” she said 厳しく. “I had an interview with him—a 私的な interview,” she 追加するd with 強調, “and he saw that it was best to leave for a time. 残り／休憩（する） in peace, my child,” she said, kissing Lesbia’s brow. “You are 安全な now, and can come to no 害（を与える）. Be 勇敢に立ち向かう as you have been, for a little time longer, and all will end 井戸／弁護士席.”
“George,” said Lesbia, stretching her 武器 like a a 疲れた／うんざりした child.
“Dearest!” the young man kissed her and gave her into his mother’s 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金. So the two women passed into the cottage, while he watched them sadly.
悲しみ had not yet done her work.
At the 現在の moment, George Walker had plenty of time on his 手渡すs, and 存在 自然に industrious, he did not enjoy the 施行するd idleness. Hitherto he had spent the 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of his leisure hours in looking for a 状況／情勢 and in thinking of Lesbia. Now he made up his mind to 行為／法令／行動する ーするために bring about some sort of 解決／入植地 of his very disorderly 事件／事情／状勢s. Lesbia could no longer remain with her father, as his character was so 極端に bad. Hale had left the cottage, but would be 確かな to return again, therefore George wished to see if he could not marry Lesbia—say within a month—so as to 救助（する） her from the troubles by which she was environed.
To do this he 要求するd 援助 and believed that he would receive it from Lord Charvington, who appeared to be 特に 井戸／弁護士席-性質の／したい気がして に向かって the girl. The idea of emigrating to the 植民地s—if Mrs. Walker could be 説得するd to lend her 是認 to the suggestion—was by no means a bad one, as then the whole unhappy past could be 始める，決める aside for ever. In another country with better prospects, and 影響を受けない by the sordid life compulsorily spent with sordid people, George foresaw that he would be able to make a 静める, 有望な and happy 未来 for himself and his wife. He therefore crossed the river and walked to Maidenhead with the idea of explaining his 計画／陰謀 to Charvington, and asking him to 前進する the necessary 基金s.
But before starting a new life George wished to 一連の会議、交渉／完成する off the old. He saw very plainly that for some 推論する／理由 the amethyst cross had been the 原因（となる） of the late troubles. Since its loss everything had gone wrong: and it was necessary that it should be 設立する if things were to be put 権利. Jabez, the lawyer, 主張するd that it should be produced before he would part with the fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs 信用 money. If, then, the ornament could be 設立する and given into Jabez’s 手渡すs, Mrs. Walker would 利益. Certainly, there was a chance that her late sister had left a child, but in the absence of proof this difficulty might be 打ち勝つ. At all events, the 生産／産物 of the cross appeared to be necessary to 軍隊 Jabez into 取引，協定ing with the 信用 money and its accumulations.
Then again, George wished to do something for Canning. The man was a wastrel and a ne’er-do-weel and had no one to take an 利益／興味 in him: but he had done Lesbia a service at かなりの 危険, and it was only fair that he should be rewarded. Undoubtedly he belonged to the ギャング（団） of clever thieves, but he had repented 十分に of his wickedness to help the lovers, whom the ギャング（団）—or at least three members of it—had 願望（する）d to destroy. This service should be recompensed, 特に as Canning could not remain in England without 存在 exposed to the vengeance of his former associates. George 決定するd to lay the 事例／患者 before Lord Charvington, and ask him to help. Failing any 援助（する） 存在 来たるべき in this ４半期/4分の1, George ーするつもりであるd to take Canning to Australia or Canada with him, and there start the man on a new career. Canning was not an old man and there was ample time for him to redeem the shortcomings of his 青年. He was not inherently wicked as were his brother and Hale, but 単に weak.
On arriving at The 法廷，裁判所, George was at once shown into the library wherein Lord Charvington was waiting for him. The old man arose courteously and （機の）カム 今後 with outstretched 手渡す. He appeared to be pleased that George had kept his 任命 so punctually, and 表明するd himself with 広大な／多数の／重要な 真心. “I am very glad to see you, Mr. Walker,” he said, when the two were again seated. “I knew your father.”
“My mother also, I believe, sir,” said George.
Charvington’s 直面する changed. “I have not seen Mrs. Walker for many a long day,” he 発言／述べるd in a low 発言する／表明する, “perhaps we may 会合，会う again, but—” he paused to ask an abrupt and 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の question. “Does your mother ever speak ill of me?” he 需要・要求するd, his 注目する，もくろむs 熱望して searching the young man’s 直面する.
“No,” answered George, much astonished. “She has scarcely について言及するd your 指名する. Why should she speak ill of you?”
“I thought that Hale might have—but that is neither here nor there. It is enough for you to know, Mr. Walker, that I knew your mother and her sister over thirty years ago. We all three knew Hale also, and he 原因（となる）d trouble. He would 原因（となる） trouble still if he could, but I think this last escapade of his will keep him 静かな.”
“Did you know my aunt 行方不明になる Katherine Morse?” asked George, astonished.
“Yes,” Charvington 残り／休憩（する）d his 長，率いる on his 手渡す and drew 人物／姿／数字s on the blotting-paper, “but why do you speak of her by her maiden 指名する? She was married, you know.”
“I don’t know her married 指名する. My mother never について言及するs it. Perhaps,” George hesitated, “perhaps she doesn’t know it.”
“Yes, she does,” answered Charvington, still 製図／抽選, “so does Hale. Your aunt died in his house at Wimbledon remember. I understood from Jabez that Hale had 認める as much.”
“I believe he did. You know Mr. Jabez?”
“Yes.” Charvington heaved 激しい sigh. “But I have not seen him for years. We correspond occasionally—that is all,” he paused, then dropping the pencil with which he was 製図／抽選, wheeled his 議長，司会を務める and looked at his guest briskly. “But we have no time to talk of these old stories. Let us come to the point. Have you heard about Lesbia’s stay here?”
“Yes,” said George very distinctly, “Lady Charvington told both my mother and myself about the 事柄.”
Lord Charvington’s 直面する grew a dull brick red. “When did you see my wife?”
“Yesterday: she called on my mother at Medmenham.”
“What did she say?” asked the 年上の man, 突然の and anxiously.
George gave 詳細（に述べる）s in a blunt 冷静な／正味の way, 誇張するing nothing and 抑えるing nothing. The 影響 on Lord Charvington was very 示すd. He jumped up from his 議長，司会を務める and paced the room, 持つ／拘留するing his 長，率いる in both his 手渡すs.
“Good heavens: oh! good heavens,” he muttered, “these women, these women. How dare Helen speak so? What does she guess? What does she know?”
“About what?” asked George with keen curiosity, and his question 解任するd Lord Charvington to the fact, which he seemed to have forgotten in his agitation, that he was not alone.
“Never mind,” he said はっきりと, and returned to his seat more composed. “Do you mean to say that Lady Charvington 明言する／公表するd that she had 設立する the cross in this library?”
“Yes, sir. And I thought that you might know—”
“I know nothing,” interrupted Charvington violently, and nervously 転換ing さまざまな articles on his 令状ing-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. “I know that there is such a cross. I remember that Mr. Samuel Morse gave it to his daughter, and 発言／述べるd on its oddity. But how did it get into this library?”
“Did you not bring it here?”
“No, sir, no.” Charvington again rose and began to walk off his uncontrollable agitation. “I have not seen that cross for years. The last time I 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on it 行方不明になる Morse—I may 同様に call her 行方不明になる Morse, since your mother has not 明らかにする／漏らすd her married 指名する—wore it 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her neck. My wife says that she 設立する it here. I tell you, Mr. Walker, that I do not know how it （機の）カム into this room. I never saw it.”
“How strange!” said George, believing this speech, but wondering にもかかわらず.
“But how comes it,” asked Charvington wheeling, “that you know about the amethyst cross, Mr. Walker?”
“I received it from Lesbia as a love-gift,” explained George, and went on to relate the circumstances of the 強襲，強姦 and 強盗. Charvington walked up and 負かす／撃墜する nodding, and muttering at intervals. When George ended he （機の）カム to a 停止（させる） before the young man.
“Lesbia told me much of what you tell me,” he said 静かに, “but of course I was ignorant that my wife had taken the cross from this room. She did not tell me that. I cannot understand.”
“And I,” said George in his turn, “cannot understand why Lady Charvington is so bitter against Lesbia.”
“Ah! Woman! Woman!” said Charvington, with a gesture of despair, “who can understand the nature of Woman! Let us leave that question for the time 存在, Mr. Walker. What we have to do is to get at the root of this 事柄. If the cross was in my wife’s jewel-事例／患者, as she 主張するs, undoubtedly the 押し込み強盗 was committed to 伸び（る） 所有／入手 of it. Hale was the どろぼう, as you know. He has sent me 支援する the 事例／患者 損なわれていない. I received it this morning, as only on 条件 of its 存在 回復するd, would I 同意 to hush the 事柄 up. And I hushed it up for his daughter’s sake, Mr. Walker. But,” Charvington wrinkled his brow and threw 支援する his white 集まり of hair, “the amethyst cross is not amongst the jewels.”
“Hale probably kept it 支援する. He wants it, you know, as he has some idea of getting this money by producing it.”
“Yes! Yes! I heard something about that,” muttered Charvington, “but of course that is impossible, unless—unless—” he paused, 開始 and shutting his 手渡すs feverishly. “Damn him,” he burst out with a stamp of his foot, “I would like to throttle him as he nearly throttled you.”
George looked up in surprise. “Throttled me?”
“Yes,” said Charvington impatiently “can’t you see? It must have been Hale who 強襲，強姦d you on the 牽引するing-path to get 支援する that cross, and he, as an 専門家 どろぼう, took the ornament from your cottage.”
“On the 直面する of it, that appears probable,” said George slowly, “all the same I don’t think it was the 事例／患者.”
“Why not? He 手配中の，お尋ね者 the amethyst cross.”
“やめる so. But if he had 得るd it from my cottage so long ago, he would have taken it to Mr. Jabez to procure the money if possible. The mere fact, too, that he was willing I should marry Lesbia, if I 設立する the 行方不明の ornament, shows that Hale did not commit the 強襲，強姦 and 強盗.”
“Then who could have done so?”
George shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t say. Probably the person who placed it in this room.”
“If it ever was in this room,” muttered Charvington, darkly.
“Your wife 宣言するs—”
“Oh yes—oh yes. I know what she 宣言するs. 井戸／弁護士席, these things are not to be threshed out in five minutes. Mr. Walker,” he stopped short before George, “do you wish to marry Lesbia?”
“With all my heart and soul. We have come together again and last night we 新たにするd our love-公約するs.”
“They should never have been broken,” said Charvington impatiently.
“They never were, save by circumstances,” said George solemnly, “our hearts were always true,” and he 関係のある the plotting of Maud and Walter Hale.
“Devils! Devils!” muttered Charvington, with another stamp, “and it’s all my fault—all my fault.”
“What!” George scarcely knew if he had heard aright.
“All my fault I say.” Charvington clutched his 長，率いる with an 表現 of 苦痛. “You do not know, you can’t guess—you—you—never mind. I’ll put an end to all this. You shall marry Lesbia and make her happy. I shall settle Hale once and for all. Come, what is your idea?”
“My idea,” said George deliberately, “was, when I entered this room, to ask you to give me enough, as a 貸付金, to marry Lesbia, so that I could take her to Australia or Canada and begin a new life. But now I have changed my mind, as I can guess that in some way you can arrange 事柄s without my having to 可決する・採択する such an extreme course.”
“Yes,” said Charvington 静かに; “I believe that I can arrange 事柄s and in a very surprising way. They should have been arranged long ago, only for the fact that I had not the courage. It is very hard to do 権利 いつかs. But the time has come. Mr. Walker, in three days 確かな people must be brought together into this room.”
“What people, sir?”
“Walter Hale and Lesbia; yourself and your mother; Mr. Jabez and my wife. When we are all 組み立てる／集結するd I shall be able to straighten things, crooked as they are at 現在の. I ask you to see that these people—saving my wife, who will be 招待するd by me to be 現在の—are here on the third day from now at three o’clock in the afternoon.”
“And then?”
“Then you shall marry Lesbia and be happy ever afterwards. Now go.”
George went without another word, wondering very much at the turn which events had taken. He had hoped that Charvington would arrange his 運命 and that of Lesbia, but the old nobleman seemed able and ready to arrange the 運命 of many other people. George could not 完全に understand the meaning of Charvington’s behaviour, and after a 簡潔な／要約する reflection did not 試みる／企てる to. He decided to 令状 a 公式文書，認める telling Hale and Lesbia to be at The 法廷，裁判所 at the 任命するd time, and also to go 本人自身で to London to see Mr. Jabez and arrange for his presence. Having thus made up his mind what to do, George strode に向かって home whistling with a 負担 off his mind. In one way or another things would surely be put 権利.
Then （機の）カム a surprise. While passing through Nightingale Thicket the young man saw Canning, looking more shadowy than ever, flitting 負かす／撃墜する the road to 会合，会う him. But as the man drew nearer George saw that his usually pale 直面する was 紅潮／摘発するd, that he was dressed spick and （期間が）わたる as a gentleman, and that there was a general look of opulence about him. He glided up to Walker 速く—for he appeared too unsubstantial to do anything save glide—and broke into a voluble explanation.
“Walker,” he cried, and in loud トンs which contrasted markedly with his usual whispering speech, “I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する this morning 特に to see you. They told me you had gone to Charvington’s place, so I crossed the river and walked in this direction on the chance of 会合 you.”
“What’s your hurry?” asked George, surprised by this change of 着せる／賦与するs and looks and manner.
“I am leaving England, and have come to say good-bye. Let us sit 負かす／撃墜する on the grass by the 道端, no one will come along. After I have explained, I shall 押し進める on to Maidenhead and take the train to London. From London I go to Italy. Yes, an old aunt of 地雷 has remembered me in her will at the eleventh hour, and I have 相続するd two hundred a year, an annuity, the 主要な／長／主犯 of which I cannot touch.”
“Luckily for you,” said George, taking out his 麻薬を吸う; “you would waste it.”
“I daresay, I was always a wrong ‘un. However, I go to Italy because there I can live like a fighting-cock on an income which means penury in England. I go also because Tait and Hale and the 残り／休憩（する） of them are making things too hot for me. But before 出発／死ing I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to see you to 自白する.”
George lighted his 麻薬を吸う and looked sideways in surprise. “自白する what?”
“That I 強襲，強姦d you,” said Canning, nervously.
“You,” George ちらりと見ることd in amazement at the frail 人物／姿／数字.
“Yes. Of course I took you by surprise, or you could have knocked me into a cocked-hat. You can punch me now, Walker.”
“I don’t want to punch you as you put it,” said George bluntly. “Of course you 行為／法令／行動するd like a skunk in こそこそ動くing behind me and knocking me on the 長，率いる, to say nothing of tying me up; all the same—”
“I tied you up,” said Canning, who had lain 負かす／撃墜する and was smoking a cigarette, “because I did not wish you to 回復する and get 支援する to your cottage at Medmenham until I had 安全な・保証するd the cross.”
George turned indignantly. “Then you were the どろぼう?” he 宣言するd.
“Yes,” 認める Canning, coughing. “Kick me. I’ll take it lying 負かす／撃墜する.”
“No,” said George, after a pause; “you have done me a service through Lesbia, by 妨げるing the success of Maud Ellis’s 陰謀（を企てる）. The evil you have done is counterbalanced by the good. But how did you get me into Rose Cottage?”
Canning sat up and looked puzzled. “I didn’t do that,” he said 真面目に. “I left you trussed on the 牽引するing-path like a fowl, and how the ジュース you got into the cottage I know no more than you do. Have you never 設立する out?”
“No,” said George 敏速に, “but I am beginning to find out many things, and it is just possible that I may solve that riddle also. By the way, why did you こそこそ動く the amethyst cross?”
“My brother 手配中の，お尋ね者 it.”
“Sargent?”
“Yes. Hale （機の）カム to Cookham on the evening when you 提案するd to 行方不明になる Lesbia, and told Alfred that she had given you the cross. Alfred 主張するd that I should 略奪する you, and primed me with シャンペン酒 to do what he 手配中の，お尋ね者. I started for the cottage with a sandbag and a rope to stun you and 貯蔵所d you, hoping to take you by surprise. I saw you coming along the 牽引するing-path in the twilight and then—”
“Yes,” George 削減（する） him short, “I know the 残り／休憩（する）. You crept up behind me and stunned me and bound me, and then こそこそ動くd 支援する to 略奪する the cottage. You are a pretty bad lot, I must say.”
“I am,” said Canning languidly, “but now that I have enough to keep the wolf from the door I’ll 改革（する）. Besides, you can kick me as I said.”
“I don’t want to, you poor devil, since you have 自白するd and have done me a service. Why did you?”
“Because 行方不明になる Hale was the only human 存在 who was ever 肉親，親類d to me,” said Canning, throwing away his cigarette. “Oh, Walker, you don’t know the terrible life I have had. I never was wicked, really I wasn’t: only weak, only easily led. I hated myself all the time I was working for Alfred and those accursed wretches he associated with. I hated all mankind because I was 扱う／治療するd so 不正に: but 行方不明になる Hale changed my nature by her 親切, and I did what I could to 修理 my wrong に向かって her and に向かって you. Because she loved you I have 自白するd because I want her to know the truth. Then I pass out of her life and yours for ever. Take this 演説（する）／住所 in London,” Canning 手渡すd him a pencilled card, “it will find me for the next week. After that I go to Italy. Tell 行方不明になる Hale everything I have told you, and then ask her to 令状 and say that she 許すs me. I don’t want her to think 不正に of me.”
George nodded and slipped the card into his pocket, feeling very sorry for the 哀れな man. “Only one question I should like to ask,” he said, rising from the grass; “why did your brother want this cross?”
“Lady Charvington—as I 設立する out from overhearing a conversation between them—asked him to get it.”
George thought of the 嘘（をつく） told by the lady as to the cross having been 設立する by her in the library. “And why did she want it?”
“I can’t say,” replied Canning, moving away; “ask her. Good-bye. And Walker, my dear fellow,” he 追加するd, “one last word. Maud Ellis and Hale are plotting to get that money which should come to your mother. Good-bye,” and he disappeared 負かす／撃墜する the road—身を引くing 速く like a receding もや. That was the last George saw of Arthur Sargent, 偽名，通称 Canning, 偽名，通称 The 影をつくる／尾行する.
But that Canning 公正に／かなり ran away, George would have stopped him to ask その上の questions. He had told much which was new and strange and explained a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定: but his last 発言／述べる hinted at その上の difficulties.
明らかに, Hale had not yet given up all idea of procuring the money, although how he hoped to do so in the absence of the child, George could not understand. Of course, Walker felt very 確かな that Hale had kept 支援する the amethyst cross when sending the jewels to Lord Charvington, but its 生産／産物 by Hale would have no 影響 on Mr. Jabez. The lawyer 手配中の，お尋ね者 the cross to be produced by the child of Katherine Morse—whatever her married 指名する might be and, によれば Hale himself, the dying woman had no child. Mrs. Walker, indeed, had 明言する／公表するd that her sister had written about a sick child, but this had probably died. If not, surely during all these twenty years the child would have come 今後 to 回復する its 相続物件.
George was 自然に puzzled with this new 開発, and decided that to learn the truth it would be best to go to the fountain 長，率いる. That is, if Hale ーするつもりであるd to use the cross to procure the money he would have to produce it to Mr. Jabez in his office in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. It was thus best to go at once to Mr. Jabez and 知らせる him of what Canning had said about this new 陰謀（を企てる）. What Maud Ellis had to do with the 事柄 it was impossible to say; George could no more understand her 関係 with the 事柄 than he could understand why Lady Charvington had 雇うd Captain Sargent to get her the cross. What possible 利益／興味 could she have in the amethyst cross? And why had she told a 審議する／熟考する 嘘（をつく） about its 存在 in the library?
George was やめる bewildered with the 複雑にするd 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s. And Jabez, as he believed, alone could solve the mystery.
George duly gave his mother Lord Charvington’s message. She received it in silence, but with a change of colour, which did not escape his notice.
“Mother,” he asked 突然の, “what do you know about Lord Charvington?”
“He was not Lord Charvington when I knew him,” 自白するd Mrs. Walker, after a pause, “but Philip Hale. Hale, you know, is the family 指名する and Lesbia’s father 耐えるs it as a cousin. Charvington had not come into the 肩書を与える some twenty and more years ago. I knew him very 井戸／弁護士席 and liked him,” she sighed, “but he was always weak.”
George looked incredulous. “Weak,” he echoed, “he seems to me to be a very strong man and one who knows his own mind.”
“He has no 疑問 learned by experience,” replied Mrs. Walker, “and heaven only knows how 不正に he needed to learn. So he is going to speak at last. He should have done so long ago.”
“About what, mother?”
Mrs. Walker pursed up her mouth. “Never mind, George, I prefer that Lord Charvington should tell his own story. If he does, Walter Hale will find himself in trouble, and I shall be glad of that. I have waited long to see him punished: soon I shall be 満足させるd.”
“Why do you hate Hale so, mother?”
“I have every 原因（となる） to hate him,” cried Mrs. Walker vindictively, and her 注目する，もくろむs glittered. “Years ago I loved Walter Hale.”
“You—loved—that—man?” said her son slowly.
“What is there strange in that?” snapped his mother, trying to keep her restless 手渡すs still. “He was handsome and clever and rich. I loved him and I thought that he loved me. I gave him my heart and 設立する out only too late that he was playing with me. He was always cruel and wicked and hard, selfish to the 核心 and thinking only of himself. We were engaged,” 追加するd Mrs. Walker, drooping her 長，率いる, and in a lower トン, “and he 自白するd then that he had very little money. He believed that I was an heiress, and so I was to the extent of fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs. My father did not like him and 宣言するd that if I married Walter he would 削減（する） me off with a shilling. I did not care, for I loved the man for himself: but he loved me for my money, and when he learned my father’s 決定／判定勝ち（する） he threw me over, and went after some other woman who was rich.”
“Lesbia’s mother?”
“I suppose so,” said Mrs. Walker, pretending 無関心／冷淡; “but he 消えるd out of my life, and I heard that he was 法廷，裁判所ing this heiress, in the hope of making a good marriage for his pocket. I was left alone, and I married your father Aylmer Walker, not because I loved him, but because he was 肉親，親類d and 同情的な. Aylmer was a spendthrift and wasted all my money; all the same he was 肉親，親類d-hearted and not a scoundrel like Walter Hale. Then you were born and すぐに afterwards misfortunes （機の）カム. I was only married four years when your father broke his neck leaving me penniless. Then Kate eloped with”—Mrs. Walker paused—“she eloped, that is all I can say. I saw Walter Hale again and learned, and learned—oh!” he rose and wrung out her 手渡すs, “what a villain the man is. But he shall be punished now. I 断言する if Charvington will not punish him, I shall punish him myself.”
“But mother—”
“Not a word,” cried Mrs. Walker passionately, “I can’t 耐える to discuss the 事柄. When we 会合，会う at Charvington’s place, the long-hidden truth will come to light. Until then—” she stopped, の近くにd her mouth, shook her 長，率いる, and left the room あわてて.
George wondered what could be the hidden truth she referred to, but could come to no 結論. He wrote a letter to Lesbia 説 that she was to come to Lord Charvington’s place, and 明言する／公表するing that he would call to take her over. Then he smoked a 麻薬を吸う and retired to bed, ーするつもりであるing the next day to go to London and see Mr. Jabez in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Mrs. Walker did not put in an 外見 again on that evening. Of course George, as a lover, lay awake and thought of Lesbia. He was sorely inclined to 延期する his visit to Mr. Jabez, and go over to Marlow on the morrow, but it was necessary to 遂行する／発効させる 商売／仕事 before indulging in 楽しみ, since, when everything was settled, he would have Lesbia beside him always as his dear wife. He therefore 抑制するd his longing for a sight of her 直面する, and 徐々に dropped off to sleep.
Next morning Mrs. Walker had her breakfast in bed and did not see her son. George left a message that he would return in the evening, and went to Henley in his boat to catch the 中央の-day train. He soon arrived in London, and without wasting time went to see Mr. Jabez.
The old lawyer had a large and expensive office in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and from the number of clerks was 明らかに much sought after as a solicitor. He received Walker as soon as the young man sent in his card, as it seemed that George had luckily arrived during the slack season. “A week ago,” said Mr. Jabez, in his 正確な way, “I should have had to keep you waiting for some hours.”
The room in which Jabez received his （弁護士の）依頼人—as George was—was a large apartment with a painted 天井 and three long windows looking out on to the gardens of the square. Probably in Georgian days it had held brilliant company, but now, since the tide of fashion had rolled さらに先に to the west, it was given over to the 乾燥した，日照りの-as-dust 詳細（に述べる）s of the 法律. Jabez looked as hatchet-直面するd as ever, and still wore his large blue spectacles to 援助（する） his weak 注目する，もくろむs. He welcomed George politely in his 乾燥した，日照りの way, and waited to hear what the young man had to say.
“Lord Charvington wants you to come 負かす／撃墜する to The 法廷，裁判所 the day after to-morrow at three o’clock,” said George 突然の.
“Why?” 需要・要求するd Jabez 静かに, and more puzzled than he chose to 収容する／認める.
“I can only answer you by telling you all that has taken place,” answered the young man, and forthwith 関係のある what he knew.
Nursing his chin in the hollow of his 手渡す, Jabez crossed his lean 脚s and listened 静かに enough, nodding at intervals. “I thought it would come to this,” he 観察するd, when the young man ended.
“Come to what?”
“An explanation.”
“Of what?”
“Of many things which will astonish you,” said Jabez drily. “Of course I was 熟知させるd with Lord Charvington when he was 単に the Honourable Philip Hale. Then—” Jabez 一時停止するd その上の 信用／信任s. “It is best to 許す Lord Charvington to speak for himself.”
“Do you know what he ーするつもりであるs to say?”
“Partly. And yet,” mused the solicitor, looking at his neat shoes, “there may be something 利益／興味ing which I do not know. However, the main point is that I shall arrange to be there at the 明言する／公表するd time. The 集会 約束s to be 利益／興味ing. The cross,” Jabez stopped, “h’m! yes, the cross. I see now how Hale got it.”
“He stole it from Lady Charvington, who procured it from Sargent, who 雇うd Canning to thieve it from me,” explained George.
“So you said before, and I am not so stupid as to 要求する a 二塁打 explanation,” said Jabez crustily, “but I am wondering how Hale hopes to get the money by means of this cross. Certainly he 宣言するs that he has 設立する the child, and—”
“What!” cried George, starting to his feet in amazement.
Jabez looked up and raised a 手渡す. “Don’t speak so loud, your 発言する／表明する goes through my 長，率いる,” he said in his testy manner. “Yes,” he searched amongst some papers, “here is a letter from Walter Hale 説 that he will call to-morrow at noon with the child of Katherine Morse—”
“Doesn’t he について言及する my aunt’s married 指名する?”
“No,” answered Jabez, sucking in his cheeks, “and that is what makes me 怪しげな of the 事件／事情／状勢. However, what you have told me to-day about Lady Charvington’s 株 in the 商売／仕事, and her husband’s 態度 gives me an idea. Send a wire to Lord Charvington asking him to 会合，会う you here to-morrow. Then you can both see Mr. Hale and this child.”
“I should like to, but what use—”
“There! There. I have no time to waste. Go and do what you are told,” said Jabez, rising with an angry gesture. “I may be wrong and I may be 権利. But putting two and two together—” he stopped and walked to the window, musingly, “yes, I believe it may be so.”
“What may be so?” questioned George, 選ぶing up his hat.
Jabez wheeled crossly. “Oh, you are there still. Go away and send that wire. At noon to-morrow, bring Lord Charvington here. Good-day,” he rang the bell, “get out, young Walker, you are taking up my time.”
Wondering at the behaviour of the lawyer, George 出発／死d and forthwith sent a prepaid wire to Charvington, asking him to come to the Lincoln’s Inn Fields office. He had half a mind to go 負かす／撃墜する and explain 本人自身で, but as he could not explain very much he relied on the wire, hoping that Charvington’s curiosity would be 十分に 誘発するd to make him obey the 召喚するs. Late in the afternoon an answer （機の）カム intimating that Charvington would be at Jabez’s office at the 任命するd time. George was 大いに pleased, as he foresaw that Hale’s little 陰謀（を企てる） would in some way be 失望させるd, Charvington 明らかに knew of much to Hale’s disadvantage; hence the wily old lawyer had induced him to be 現在の. Having come to this 結論 Walker wired to his mother 説 that he would remain in London, and 雇うd his evening in going to a music hall. He 前向きに／確かに had to do so, for if he had remained alone in his hotel brooding over riddles which he could by no means solve, he felt that his brain would not 耐える the 緊張する. Still, in a vague way, he felt that all things were 存在 形態／調整d to a happy end and that light was coming out of the 不明瞭 which had enshrouded things for so long.
At a ４半期/4分の1 to twelve in the morning George met Charvington in the 半分-中庭 in 前線 of the mansion, wherein Jabez had his office. The 年上の man jumped out of the hansom, in which he had driven from the 鉄道 駅／配置する, and walked に向かって the young one with an elastic step, after he had paid his fare.
“What’s all this, Walker?” he 需要・要求するd 突然の. “Why did you wire for me to come up on this day, and at this hour, and to this place?”
“Come upstairs to Mr. Jabez and he’ll explain,” said George, 主要な the way up the steps, “we cannot ぐずぐず残る here. Hale may see us.”
“Hale,” Charvington followed hurriedly and caught the young man’s arm, “and why is Hale coming here?”
“He has 設立する—so he says—my cousin.”
“Your—cousin?”
“My aunt’s child—the 相続人 to the 所有物／資産／財産 which Mr. Jabez has held for so long.”
Charvington stopped on the 上陸. “So Hale is going to 心配する me,” he muttered, and without waiting to be 発表するd he opened the door of Jabez’s 私的な room and strode in. The lawyer looked up irritably.
“I’m engaged. You, Lord Charvington? 井戸／弁護士席, I might have guessed as much from your abrupt 入ること／参加（者）. You 港／避難所’t changed much in your impulsive ways.”
Lord Charvington threw 負かす／撃墜する his hat and stick and gloves and flung himself into a 議長，司会を務める. “I have changed very much in looks,” he retorted; “however there is no time for these personalities. Walker,” he 示すd the young man who had followed him closely, “tells me that Hale ーするつもりであるs to produce the heiress to his aunt’s 所有物／資産／財産.”
Jabez looked inquisitively at Charvington through his blue spectacles. “I believe so,” he said 静かに and 慎重に, with a ちらりと見ること at his watch. “Hale will bring the girl here in a few minutes.”
“It’s a girl then,” sneered Charvington.
“You について言及するd the word ‘heiress’ yourself,” 発言／述べるd Jabez, with 強調.
“A mere guess. And what of the cross?”
“Hale says that the girl will produce it.”
“Humph! I don’t believe that the girl will produce stolen 所有物／資産／財産. You know that the cross was stolen from my house?”
“So I believe,” said Jabez politely.
“Yes, Walker here told me, though how it got into my library—”
“I can tell you that now, Lord Charvington,” interposed George, “as I heard the truth from Canning the other day. Sargent 雇うd Canning to steal the cross ーするために pass it over to your wife.”
Charvington bounded from his 議長，司会を務める. “What did she want with it?”
“I can’t say—I don’t—”
“Hush,” said Jabez, who, at the sound of wheels in the 中庭, had gone to one of the tall windows; “here come Hale and his heiress. Go into the next room with Walker, Lord Charvington. When I 要求する you I shall 召喚する you.”
“But why do you bring me here at all?” 需要・要求するd Charvington brusquely.
Jabez looked straight at him and his long fingers played a tune on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. “I have an idea,” he said 厳粛に; “you may be able to tell me if that idea is 訂正する.”
“What is the idea?”
“I cannot tell it to you, until I see this heiress.”
“Very good.” Charvington sat 負かす／撃墜する again. “Introduce her and Hale.”
“No! No!” said Jabez anxiously, “that would never do. Wait until I hear Hale’s story and then—”
“Hale will only tell you a pack of lies,” interrupted Charvington violently. “And besides he stole the cross and—”
Jabez put his 手渡す against the breast of the angry （衆議院の）議長 and 押し進めるd him gently に向かって a 味方する door. “Go in there and wait,” he said insistently. “You also, Walker.”
“No,” cried Charvington, “I shan’t.”
“If you don’t,” said the solicitor very 静かに, “I shall wash my 手渡すs of this 事柄. Already Hale and his heiress are waiting in the 賭け金-議会, and if your 発言する／表明する is recognised, they will not come in.”
“Why not?”
“Because I believe that this is another of Hale’s wicked 計画／陰謀s. Let me hear the whole 発明 he has made up, and then I can call upon you to 立証する the story.”
“But I can’t wait. I want to know who this girl is.”
“Can’t you guess?” 需要・要求するd Jabez, 主要な him deftly to the door of the inner room where he wished him to wait.
“I can do more than guess, I know.”
“Humph,” muttered Jabez, “I thought so.”
“You thought what?”
“Never mind. If you know rightly, you will be able to help me.”
Charvington stamped. “I believe it’s all lies. I want to see this girl.”
“井戸／弁護士席,” said Jabez resignedly. “I shall do a thing I have never done before since you will not be 静かな さもなければ. In the パネル盤 of this door there is a small knot-穴を開ける. Look in and see if—”
Charvington 急ぐd into the room, dragging Walker after him, and の近くにd the door. すぐに afterwards they heard the 入り口 of two people. The old man 適用するd an 注目する，もくろむ to the knot-穴を開ける. Then he laughed silently and made George 適用する his 注目する，もくろむ. “Look at the heiress,” he said sneeringly.
Walker looked 熱望して and saw—Maud Ellis.
It was indeed Maud Ellis who entered on the arm of Mr. Hale. She was carefully dressed and, as usual, had made the best of her looks, such as they were. But she appeared to be anxious—to be strung up to fighting-pitch—after the manner of a woman who 心配するd that she was not going to get her own way without a 戦う／戦い. On her 入り口, she 手段d the lean lawyer with the 注目する，もくろむ of an antagonist, and then sat 負かす／撃墜する in the 議長，司会を務める which he politely 押し進めるd 今後. As to Walter Hale, he looked much the same as he always did, 冷静な／正味の, polished, and composed. Of course, he was perfectly arrayed in 社債 Street taste, and his manners were as irreproachable as was his 衣装. If 行方不明になる Ellis was nervous, Hale assuredly was not. To Jabez, he 示唆するd a bowie-knife—an 半端物 comparison, but one which （機の）カム 突然に into the lawyer’s unimaginative brain.
“You know, of course, Mr. Jabez,” said Hale when seated, “what I have come to see you about.”
The solicitor, who had taken his usual 議長，司会を務める before the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, nodded and pointed to Hale’s letter which lay on the blotting-paper before him. “To produce the amethyst cross,” said he 厳粛に.
“And something more important than the cross. 許す me,” Hale stood up to give his words 予定 影響, “to 現在の to you, 行方不明になる Katherine Morse—”
“Oh,” interrupted Jabez drily, “I understood from you that she died in your Wimbledon house years ago.”
“You are thinking of my mother,” put in Maud boldly. “She, indeed, is dead; but I am her child and am called after her.”
“Even to the 指名する of Morse?”
“Later,” said Hale, with dignity, “I can give you the married 指名する of this young lady’s mother. 一方／合間, the cross is—”
“Is here,” said Maud, and 開始 a little 捕らえる、獲得する which was swinging on her wrist, she 抽出するd therefrom a red morocco 事例／患者 and 手渡すd it to Jabez.
He opened it 厳粛に and beheld the long-lost ornament. “It was my dear mother’s,” 追加するd 行方不明になる Ellis with feigned pathos, as though the sight was too much for her tender heart. “My grandfather gave it to her, and—”
“And your mother gave it to you,” ended Jabez, seeing with his usual keen gaze that her 注目する，もくろむs were 乾燥した，日照りの behind the handkerchief she was 持つ／拘留するing to them.
“No,” she replied, 突然に and sadly. “I never 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs upon it until Mr. Hale saw me a few days ago.”
“許す me to explain,” said Hale, as watchful as a cat. “As I told you, 行方不明になる Morse—”
“Still no married 指名する,” muttered the solicitor ironically.
“That will be told later,” 発言／述べるd Hale, provokingly self-所有するd. “I have first to tell my story.”
“Go on,” Jabez stretched his 脚s and put his 手渡すs in his pockets, “it is sure to be 利益／興味ing.”
“I hope so,” 再結合させるd Hale, making a 調印する to Maud that she should not talk, “and already you know much of it.”
“Let me see. Yes, I remember. You told me at Rose Cottage, in the presence of Mrs. Walker, that 行方不明になる Morse died at your Wimbledon house in the 武器 of your wife. She gave the cross to your wife, who afterwards gave it to the nurse, Bridget Burke. She in her turn gave it to your daughter Lesbia, who 現在のd it to young Walker from whom it was stolen. Am I 権利?”
“Perfectly,” said Hale 厳粛に. “So you can see how 行方不明になる Morse here, never 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on it until I brought it to her.”
“And how did you become 所有するd of it?”
“I shall explain that, when you have heard 行方不明になる Morse’s story.”
Maud put up her 隠す and wiped her lips. “I am only too anxious to tell it,” she 宣言するd 熱望して, “and—”
Jabez 削減（する） her short. “I am sure you are, but before 審理，公聴会 it I should like to remind Mr. Hale that he 宣言するd in my presence and in the presence of Mrs. Walker that there was no child.”
“やめる so,” said Hale 敏速に. “I am not bound to tell you anything I 願望（する） to keep silent.”
“I think you will have to do so, if you wish this young lady to get fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs,” said Jabez coolly.
“Of course: that is why I am here. But I 言及する to the interview at my Marlow cottage. Then, I was not bound to speak. I speak now. There was not any child with 行方不明になる Morse when she died at my Wimbledon house. But with her last breath she told me where she had left the child—in a poor neighbourhood and with a poor woman.”
“Who was very good to me,” said Maud, with tenderness very 井戸／弁護士席 行為／法令／行動するd. “Dear Mrs. Tait, shall I ever forget her 親切?”
“Tait. Humph. So that’s the 指名する, is it?”
“The 指名する of my foster-mother who brought me up. For years I have been called Maud Ellis, but only when Mr. Hale （機の）カム to see me bringing the cross did I learn my true 指名する and 血統／生まれ.”
“Why did your foster-mother call you Ellis?” asked Jabez.
“She passed me off to the world as her sister’s child,” said Maud glibly.
“Why? I cannot see the need.”
“Nor I,” said 行方不明になる Ellis, with a swift ちらりと見ること at Hale. “But who knows the human heart, Mr. Jabez?”
“No one so far as I know. But you were 説—”
“If you will 許す me to tell my story I can make everything （疑いを）晴らす.”
“I am やめる 確かな that you can,” said the lawyer, politely ironical. “Go on.”
“Mrs. Tait kept a 宿泊するing-house in Bloomsbury. My mother lived there after leaving her husband—my father, who 扱う／治療するd her very 不正に. I am 権利,” she 追加するd turning to Hale, “in 説 this?”
“He behaved like a brute,” said Hale emphatically, “but then he always was a brute I am sorry to say.”
“Dear me,” murmured Jabez, “proceed, please.”
“My mother left me with Mrs. Tait, as she had very little money and went to 捜し出す out my father at Wimbledon one 激しく 冷淡な, 雪の降る，雪の多い day. He turned her from his door, and she nearly 死なせる／死ぬd in the snow. Fortunately this good man,” Maud ちらりと見ることd pathetically at Hale, who tried not to look too conscious, “took in the 餓死するing and 冷気／寒がらせるd woman. My mother died, and I was left to Mrs. Tait’s 肉親，親類d care.”
“What about the cross?” asked Jabez 突然の, stifling a yawn.
“I can explain that,” interposed Hale quickly, “indeed I have already done so. It was given to my wife and—”
“Of course: of course, I remember now. 井戸／弁護士席,” Jabez turned to Maud, “so you remained with Mrs. Tait.”
“Until she died. Then her husband 可決する・採択するd me as his niece and with him I lived, 保持するing my 指名する of Maud Ellis.”
“There was a husband then?”
“Yes,” said Hale anxiously, “you may know of him, Mr. Michael Tait, the stockbroking philanthropist.”
“Oh,” drawled the solicitor 静かに, “the same man who lost his jewels the other day.”
“Yes,” 認める Hale, やめる ignorant of how much Jabez knew, “the same. He was poor when 行方不明になる Morse—or 行方不明になる Ellis if you like—（機の）カム to his wife, and Mrs. Tait kept a 搭乗-house to help him. Then Tait made a lucky 憶測—he was a clerk in the City—and began to grow rich. But before he could make a fortune Mrs. Tait died, and thus never 利益d.”
“No, poor dear, and she was so very 肉親，親類d,” said Maud sweetly, “however, when my uncle grew rich—”
“Your uncle?” queried Jabez.
Maud coloured to the roots of her sandy hair. “I have fallen into the habit of calling my friend Mr. Tait my uncle. And, indeed, until the other day I almost thought that he was my uncle until I knew the truth. But as I was 説, Mr. Jabez, my uncle—for I still call Mr. Tait so—placed a magnificent tombstone over her remains when he grew rich. That is my story.”
“A very 利益／興味ing one,” said Jabez politely. “Then I take it that you are the young lady する権利を与えるd to fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs.”
“I am. I understood that when I （機の）カム and 現在のd that cross,” Maud pointed to the ornament on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, “that the money would be given to me.”
“You certainly said as much to me, Jabez,” chimed in Hale anxiously.
“やめる 権利. The cross,” Jabez waved his 手渡す, “was only a little 試みる／企てる of 地雷 to introduce romance into the 乾燥した，日照りの 詳細（に述べる）s of the 法律. Of course it is a means of 身元確認，身分証明, but it will be necessary for 行方不明になる Ellis to produce her 証明書 of birth, her baptismal 証明書 and—”
Hale bit his finger with vexation. “I 心配するd that 反対,” he interrupted in hard トンs, “and I knew you would make it.”
“In the 利益／興味 of Mrs. Walker I must make it.”
“Yes! yes. But the fact is, that only Mrs. Tait, besides the mother, knew where the 証明書 of birth and that of baptism were to be 設立する. They are both dead, as you have heard, so—”
“So,” ended Jabez rising to stand before the fireplace, “so there will be no chance of this young lady getting the money.”
“Don’t you believe my story?” 需要・要求するd Maud 怒って.
“Oh yes. One has only to look into your 直面する, my dear madam, to be 確かな that you speak as you believe. But the 法律 is not so tender-hearted as I am. The 法律 要求するs proofs.”
“The amethyst cross—”
“Is one proof, but others are 要求するd. Then, you see, the cross was stolen and has not been in your 所有／入手 all these years. It is not a very strong proof of your 身元.”
“I can make an affidavit,” said Hale はっきりと, “断言するing that the mother told me where the child was to be 設立する.”
“やめる so, and doubtless Mr. Tait—then in the Bloomsbury 宿泊するing-house kept by his wife—can make another affidavit showing how the mother left the child in his wife’s 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金.”
“Of course,” assented Hale readily. “Tait will do anything I ask him.”
“And my uncle,” said Maud, “for I must call him uncle, will only be too glad to see me come into my kingdom.”
“Oh, I am 確かな of that,” said Jabez, trimming his nails 速く with a little knife, “and to show your 感謝, you will doubtless divide the money with him.”
“Oh no. My uncle is too rich to need help,” said Maud virtuously.
Jabez shut the knife and 回復するd it to his pocket. “So he made enough by the 二塁打 取引，協定 of the jewels and the 保険 詐欺 to tide over the 財政上の 危機 which 脅すd him,” he said deliberately.
Maud turned pale and uttered an exclamation. “I don’t understand.”
“Do you, Mr. Hale?” asked Jabez.
“No,” said the man coldly, “I know nothing of Tait’s 商売／仕事.”
“Rubbish! rubbish! See here, Hale, and you, young woman, before you （機の）カム here to try your games on me, you should have made 確かな that I knew nothing of your doings. As it is, from Mrs. Walker, from her son, and from さまざまな other people, I know all that has taken place in 関係 with that cross from the time 行方不明になる Lesbia Hale gave it to her lover, and—”
“You 侮辱 行方不明になる Morse,” interrupted Hale furiously.
“行方不明になる Maud Ellis you mean,” sneered the lawyer, “and—no you don’t,” he stretched out his long arm, and snatched the cross away, before Hale could lay a finger on it. “That belongs to Mrs. Walker’s niece.”
“I am Mrs. Walker’s niece,” panted Maud, standing up with a red and furious 直面する. Since Jabez appeared to know so much, she saw very 井戸／弁護士席 that the plotting of herself and Hale had come to an untimely end. にもかかわらず, like a woman, she 固執するd in fighting, even when the game had been irretrievably lost. “She will 認める me.”
The lawyer slipped the 事例／患者 含む／封じ込めるing the cross into the pocket of his coat and 直面するd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. “If Mrs. Walker will 認める you as her niece,” he 宣言するd, “I will give you the money.”
“What’s the use of talking in this way?” cried Hale 怒って. “You know 井戸／弁護士席 enough that Mrs. Walker wants the money for herself. She will certainly not help this poor girl to 伸び（る） her 権利s.”
“Girl,” echoed Jabez cruelly, and with his 注目する，もくろむs on Maud’s plain 直面する, which showed 年輩の lines. “I am no 裁判官 of a lady’s age, but—”
“Brute! brute,” cried 行方不明になる Ellis, making for the door. “Hale, come away, I am not going to stand here and be 侮辱d.”
“I am coming,” said Hale sullenly: then turning to the lawyer: “as to these 隠すd 告訴，告発s you bring against me—”
“Oh, you want me to speak clearer. Very 井戸／弁護士席, then. You, Mr. Hale, and you, 行方不明になる Maud Ellis, belong to a ギャング（団） of clever thieves. The police have been trying to break up the ギャング（団） for years: but hitherto have not 後継するd. Now they will lay 手渡すs on one and all.”
“Oh!” gasped Maud, trembling. “What nonsense you talk.”
“The police do not think so. You and Hale had better make yourselves 不十分な, for one of your ギャング（団） has given the 残り／休憩（する） away.”
“Canning, 爆破 him!” shouted Hale ひどく.
“Ah!” Jabez turned on him, “you 収容する／認める then that I speak the truth.”
“I 収容する／認める nothing,” muttered Hale, wiping his 直面する.
“As you please,” Jabez moved に向かって the door 主要な into the inner room where Lord Charvington and George were 隠すd, “but Canning is now in communication with the police. I learned yesterday that he knew all. I got his 演説（する）／住所 from young Walker, and have seen him. To save his own 肌 he will turn king’s 証拠 and you and 行方不明になる Ellis there, and her dear uncle and Sargent, and a few others, 含むing Mrs. Petty, will be—”
“Damn you,” cried Hale, while Maud stood trembling at the outer door, which she had not strength enough to open, “I’ll kill you.”
With outstretched 手渡す he 肺d 今後 to 支配する the lawyer. Jabez on the watch dexterously slipped aside and flung open the door. Hale unable to 抑制する his impetus 急落（する），激減（する）d 権利 through the 入り口 into the strong 武器 of George Walker. That young gentleman 選ぶd him up like a feather and carrying him into the outer room, flung him into Jabez’s 議長，司会を務める. Maud uttered a cry of alarm. She did not know Lord Charvington: but she knew George, and guessed that he had overheard the whole wicked 陰謀（を企てる）. 打ち勝つ with shame she tore blindly at the door, opened it hurriedly and fled away, pulling 負かす／撃墜する her 隠す to hide her shameful 直面する. She could not 会合，会う the 注目する，もくろむ of the man, whom she had wronged so 深く，強烈に, because she loved him too 井戸／弁護士席.
非，不，無 of the three men followed her, as their attention was taken up with Hale. Over him stood George, righteously indignant. “You confounded blackguard,” cried George between his teeth, “if you were not Lesbia’s father I would 殺人 you.”
“始める，決める your mind at 残り／休憩（する） on that point, George,” said Lord Charvington, who was strangely white, “I am Lesbia’s father.”
“You!” George recoiled, dazed and startled. “Katherine Morse was my first wife and I am Lesbia’s father.”
“Now,” said George to Hale, “I can choke the wicked life out of you.”
But Charvington stopped him. “Leave him to God.”
A day or so after the scene in the Lincoln’s Inn Fields office, a party of those 利益／興味d in the circumstances connected with the amethyst cross 組み立てる／集結するd in the library of The 法廷，裁判所. George was 現在の with Lesbia by his 味方する—Lesbia, still ignorant of her true 血統／生まれ. Mrs. Walker, looking いっそう少なく grim than usual, had a seat 近づく Mr. Jabez, who had come 負かす／撃墜する to hear Lord Charvington’s story and to 証言，証人／目撃する the 権利ing of the wrong which had been done to Lesbia. But two people who should have been on the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す were absent—Walter Hale and Lady Charvington.
On returning from London, where he had 認める the truth, Charvington had interviewed his wife. What took place between them was never known, for out of shame for the lady’s behaviour Charvington said as little as he could, when explaining fully. But his wife must have been 不満な with the conversation, for she left The 法廷，裁判所 and returned to London. In spite of what her husband said, she 絶対 辞退するd to be 現在の at the rehabilitation of Lesbia, and it must be 自白するd that Charvington felt relieved. He knew his wife’s fiery temper and vindictive nature 井戸／弁護士席, and therefore dreaded lest she should make a scene. Besides he was manifestly in the wrong, and when given an インチ Lady Charvington すぐに took an ell with all the zest of an ungenerous woman. Mrs. Walker having been the lady’s schoolfellow had something to say on the 支配する: but she reserved her 発言／述べるs until she heard Charvington’s story. She, for one, was not astonished at Lady Charvington’s 失敗 to put in an 外見 at the 会議／協議会. She had never credited her with a kindly heart willing to 許す and forget. And time 証明するd that her 見積（る） was 権利.
As to Hale, the interview in Jabez’s office had more or いっそう少なく done away with the necessity for his presence.
He 認める the truth of Charvington’s 声明 to Jabez, and after 自白するing the whole of his wicked 陰謀（を企てる）s to 伸び（る） 所有／入手 of Mrs. Walker’s money—or rather the money which now belonged to Lesbia as her mother’s heiress,—he had been permitted to 出発／死. This he did, knowing that the police were on his 跡をつける, and that unless he could get out of the country he would be in danger of 逮捕（する）. And if he were 逮捕（する）d he knew 井戸／弁護士席 enough that he would 苦しむ a long 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 of 監禁，拘置. 運命, as Mrs. Walker had 発言／述べるd, had been very 肉親，親類d to him, but the hour had arrived when she 需要・要求するd the return of all the good fortune which she had lent. And Hale lurked in byways, trembling for the 支払い（額） of the 法案 which the police—as 運命’s スパイ／執行官s—were trying to 現在の. He did his best to give the police no chance of 現在のing it, and longed—like David—for the wings of a dove that he might 飛行機で行く away and be at 残り／休憩（する）.
But enough people were 現在の to give Charvington an 適切な時期 of 自白するing his 証拠不十分 and folly and, to be plain, cowardice, or, to be generous, want of courage. Only George and Jabez knew what he was about to say, as they already had heard the 自白 in the office. But Mrs. Walker and Lesbia were ignorant, and although they guessed that they had been brought there to hear how things could be 権利d, they little 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd the way in which this would be 遂行するd.
Lord Charvington ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する at the attentive 直面するs, and then 突然の 急落（する），激減（する）d into the middle of his his story. It was not an 平易な one for him to tell, and only sincere repentance made him bold enough to open his mouth. “I have to 権利 a 広大な／多数の／重要な wrong,” he said with かなりの emotion, “a wrong done to you, Lesbia.”
“To me!” The girl looked surprised and clutched George’s 手渡す tighter.
“Yes! Listen. For you to understand I must go 支援する over twenty years. You remember that time, Judith?”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Walker 静かに, “but you should go 支援する nearly thirty years, Philip. George is now five-and-twenty and I married his father some seven years previous to the time you speak of.”
“I begin some twenty-three years ago,” said Charvington, after a pause, “as it was then that I married your sister Katherine. Lesbia,” he turned to the girl, “you are now twenty I believe?”
“Yes, but what have I to do with—”
“You have everything to do with it,” interrupted Charvington, “for I am your father, Lesbia—your 有罪の, 臆病な／卑劣な, cruel father.”
“What!” Mrs. Walker rose slowly with a pale 直面する and indignant 注目する，もくろむs, “do you mean to say that this girl is my sister’s child?”
“Yes, and as such 相続するs the money.”
“I don’t want it,” said Lesbia, who was as pale as a wintry moon, for she could scarcely しっかり掴む the significance of her father’s 声明.
Mrs. Walker waved the 反対 aside. “I don’t mind about the money,” she said 厳しく, “and if George marries Lesbia the money is 井戸／弁護士席 bestowed. But to think that you, Philip, should know the truth and 隠す it. I always thought that you were more sinned against than sinning, Philip, as Hale was your evil genius. But if you knew that Lesbia was your daughter why did you 許す her to call that wretch father?’
“I am about to explain,” said Charvington, trying to speak 静かに, “and I remember the time, Judith, when you would not have called Hale a wretch.”
“I remember it also,” said Mrs. Walker, sitting 負かす／撃墜する, “a time when I loved the man. But you know, Philip, how he deceived me and left me and threw me into the 武器 of George’s father. I can neither 許す nor forget the cruelty with which he 扱う／治療するd me. And you 許すd your own child—my poor Kate’s daughter—to call him father. How could you? how could you?”
“I was wrong, Judith—”
“Wrong,” she repeated 堅固に, “you were wicked and cruel. What induced you to arrange 事柄s so? Why was not Lesbia given into my 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金? I was her aunt; I had the 権利 to look after her. But I 推定する／予想する you and Mr. Jabez made up the 事柄 between you and—”
“容赦 me,” said the lawyer politely, “but I knew nothing for ever so long, and if I had known, I should have given the money which I held in 信用 to 行方不明になる Lesbia Hale.”
“Is my 指名する Lesbia Hale?” asked the girl, who looked pale and 脅すd.
“Yes,” said her father, “Hale is my family 指名する. You are Lesbia Hale, as your half-sisters are Agatha and Lena Hale.”
“My half-sisters?” muttered Lesbia bewildered.
“Of course. Your mother was my first wife, and you are her child; Helen Harrowby is my second wife, the mother of Agatha and Lena.”
“Helen Harrowby,” said Mrs. Walker with 軽蔑（する）. “Oh, I know her 井戸／弁護士席, better than you know her, Charvington, or you would never have married her.”
“Heaven knows that I have learned to know her,” said the man 激しく, “but 許す me to explain myself, and—”
“One moment,” put in Jabez, “I wish to explain on my part to Mrs. Walker, that I knew nothing of the truth for years. It was only when you, madam,” he 演説（する）／住所d himself 直接／まっすぐに to Mrs. Walker, “told me of the 窃盗 of the amethyst cross, and how your son had 得るd it from 行方不明になる Hale, that I got an idea. I fancied—on account of the cross—that 行方不明になる Hale might be your sister’s child, but Hale swore, if you remember, that there was no child.”
“Yes,” said George caustically, “and then tried to pass off Maud Ellis as the child so as to get the money.”
“That 陰謀（を企てる） was doomed to fail from the first,” said Jabez waving his 手渡す, “as by then, I knew too much. I did not like to 宣言する my belief that 行方不明になる Hale was the 行方不明の child, until I had その上の proof. In one way and another the proofs （機の）カム to 手渡す. When Lord Charvington appeared in my office at my request, すぐに before Hale called with 行方不明になる Ellis, I was then pretty 井戸／弁護士席 納得させるd that he was 行方不明になる Hale’s father. I was 権利.”
“But you knew for years that he had been my sister’s husband,” said Mrs. Walker, “and knowing that, you should have asked him about the child.”
“You knew also. Why did not you ask?”
“Because from Kate’s letter to me 説 that the child was 危険に ill, I believed that it had died.”
“You told me that,” said Jabez, “and I thought so also. Perhaps I have been blind and have not done 司法（官） to my 合法的な training. However, the 事例／患者 is a very peculiar one. Let us hear what Lord Charvington has to say, and then, if necessary, I can exonerate myself その上の.”
Mrs. Walker moved her 議長，司会を務める and caught Lesbia’s 解放する／撤去させるd 手渡す. “I am やめる ready,” she said calmly, “and before Charvington speaks, I must thank him for giving me 支援する Kate’s child.”
Lesbia was too 打ち勝つ to speak coherently, but muttering something unintelligible, she sat between mother and son, her aunt and her cousin, 許すing them to 持つ／拘留する her 手渡すs, and feeling, poor child, that at last she had someone to love her, and 心にいだく her, and take care of her. Lord Charvington cast a longing ちらりと見ること at the trio. He would have liked to take Lesbia in his 武器, but it was part of his 罰 to see her 粘着する to others, while he 詳細（に述べる）d the folly that had led to his 孤立／分離.
“When I was young,” he said in a 安定した 発言する／表明する, and speaking slowly, “there were two people between myself and the 肩書を与える I 持つ／拘留する. I was then 単に Philip Hale.”
“The Honourable Philip Hale,” said Mrs. Walker 敏速に.
“No,” he 否定するd, “no, Judith, my father was only a younger son. I had no 肩書を与える どれでも until the death of my cousins by 溺死するing placed me here as 長，率いる of the family. And I had no 期待 then of becoming rich and 肩書を与えるd. I was 簡単に a briefless barrister.”
“And Walter’s closest companion,” muttered Mrs. Walker.
“Yes. But Walter was not so wicked in those days as he has since 証明するd to be.”
“He was always wicked,” snapped the woman, “he was your evil genius.”
Charvington passed his 手渡す through his white hair. “I 恐れる he was. However, we can talk of that later. Walter and I were the best of friends, and it was Walter who introduced me to Mr. Samuel Morse, a City merchant. He had two daughters. Judith—”
“That was me,” murmured Mrs. Walker, “and the other daughter was my sister Kate. You loved Kate, and I thought that Walter loved me.”
“Walter behaved very 不正に,” said Charvington 敏速に. “He was poor while pretending to be rich, and so, when your father, not 認可するing of his scampish ways, learned that you loved him, Judith, he 脅すd to disinherit you.”
“やめる so, and learning that, Walter threw me over. Later, I married George’s father, who was やめる as scampish, but 肉親，親類d-hearted and honourable.”
“Yes!” Charvington nodded, “I always wondered why Mr. Morse permitted that marriage as he knew that Walker was やめる as wild as Hale.”
“But he knew also that Aylmer was honourable, which Walter never was. Let that pass, I was jilted by Walter and married Aylmer. I lost my money and my husband, and was left with George to live on nothing. That’s my story, I want to hear yours.”
“You know most of it,” said Lord Charvington, now speaking 速く as though anxious to end a disagreeable 仕事. “I loved Kate; she was the only woman I ever loved, but your father, thinking me as dissipated as Walter, 辞退するd to 許す the match. Kate eloped with me, and your father would have altered his will but that he died before he could send for his lawyer.”
“And that was me,” said Jabez, “however, the will was very fair. You, Mrs. Walker, got your fifty thousand when you married your husband, and he soon got rid of it. The other fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs belonged to Kate, but she never appeared to get it. Why not?” he asked Charvington.
“Walter Hale again,” said that gentleman quickly. “Kate and I were married and went on the Continent. I was poor and we lived 静かに, hoping that some day Mr. Morse would relent. Then we heard that he had died. Walter undertook to find out about the will, and told us that Kate 相続するd nothing, that all had been left to you, Judith.”
“And you believed him,” said Jabez. “Why didn’t you communicate with me?”
“I had no 推論する／理由 then to 疑問 Walter,” said Charvington stiffly.
“Augh,” groaned Mrs. Walker softly, “you were always an honourable fool.”
“I was, in believing Walter,” said Charvington, “and not until lately have I learned how I was deceived. Walter was always plausible and clever. Besides, I kept the fact of my marriage secret from my father lest he should disinherit me. Walter made 資本／首都 out of that also. Then there was Helen—”
“Helen,” cried Mrs. Walker, rising, much agitated. “She always hated me and hated Kate because Kate was pretty and you loved her. Helen and Walter 原因（となる）d all the trouble.”
“I know that now; I did not know it then,” said Charvington sadly. “I was always foolish as you 発言／述べるd just now. I was living in Paris with my wife. Lesbia was a baby then. We met Helen, who pretended to be our friend.”
“A friend such as Walter was,” muttered Mrs. Walker.
“I 恐れる so, but let us say nothing since Helen is now my wife.”
“You let her off too easily.”
“She is now my wife,” said Charvington determinedly, “so that puts an end to all discussion. Besides, Walter was to 非難する, as my wife 知らせるd me in a conversation we had when she 辞退するd to be 現在の at this 会合. He worked on Kate’s feelings and made her believe that I was in love with Helen. I was wrong also, for then I went about much with Helen, while my wife was ill, so that in the end Kate grew jealous.”
“You 扱う／治療するd her worse than I thought,” said Mrs. Walker darkly.
Charvington threw out his 手渡すs. “I never was a hero,” he said entreatingly, “but surely I have 苦しむd for my 証拠不十分—the 証拠不十分 of a 楽しみ-loving man. I was wrong; I here 収容する／認める 公然と that I was wrong. Surely you will believe that my repentance is sincere.”
Mrs. Walker looked at his drawn 直面する and 認める that it was. After all, few men would have had the courage to stand up and speak as Charvington was now speaking—to lay 明らかにする the secrets of their 証拠不十分 and 努力する／競う, even at the eleventh hour, to make 修正するs. Charvington had sinned through 証拠不十分; he 自白するd through strength 伸び（る）d from the lessons of a hard life, hard in spite of his outward show of 繁栄. “I 許す you,” said Mrs. Walker in softer トンs, “go on.”
“I come to the cruellest part,” said Charvington in a 厚い 発言する／表明する. “Kate was so jealous that she fled with the child. I searched for her but could not find her. It was in winter. Then Walter sent for me. I （機の）カム to England and he told me that Kate had come to him weak and ill and almost 餓死するing. She had sold what jewels she 所有するd to 料金d herself and her child, and only 保持するd the amethyst cross which her father had given her. Then she went to Walter at Wimbledon, and there died in the 武器 of Bridget Burke.”
“Was Mr. Hale married then?” asked George anxiously.
“No. He never married in his life. But when I arrived my wife was buried and had left the child to the care of Bridget, and also had given her the cross 説 it was to be 手渡すd to Lesbia when she grew up.”
“Bridget gave it to me on her death-bed,” sighed Lesbia, who wept 激しく.
“Yes, I learned that,” said Charvington with a 激しい sigh. “But to go 支援する to my story. I repented 深く，強烈に of the way in which I had behaved. I meant no 害（を与える）, and would have explained to my wife had she not left me 内密に. I never had an 適切な時期 of explaining. Kate 簡単に disappeared and died. 借りがあるing to my 行為／行う I did not dare to go 近づく you, Judith, or I might have placed the child in your care. As it was Hale 提案するd that Lesbia should be nursed by Bridget and that I should 許す him money. I agreed to this, as at the time it seemed the best way out of the difficulty. Then my cousins were lost at sea in their ヨット. I （機の）カム in for a large income and for the 肩書を与える. My 親族s 勧めるd me to marry again. Chance threw me once more into Helen’s company—”
“Chance!” snorted Mrs. Walker. “Chance! I know the minx.”
Charvington passed over this 発言／述べる. “I married Helen and took up the 駅／配置する I now 持つ／拘留する. I arranged to 許す Walter an annuity if he looked after Lesbia. He did so, and 徐々に she began to look on him as her father.”
“And you permitted that—you permitted that,” cried Mrs. Walker furiously.
“Yes,” said Charvington with an 成果／努力. “証拠不十分 again. My wife knew the truth and I did not dare to bring my child into the house. I 供給するd that Lesbia should have a good education, and saw that she had everything she 願望（する）d. Walter was 肉親，親類d to her in his own way. 徐々に I （機の）カム to 受託する the 状況／情勢. Then the cross passed into Walker’s 所有／入手, and—” he threw out his 手渡す—“you know the 残り／休憩（する）.”
George nodded. “But how did Lady Charvington learn the truth, and why did she want the cross?”
Charvington sighed again and hung his 長，率いる. “I do not wish to speak ill of my wife,” he said in a low 発言する／表明する; “but in 司法（官） to Lesbia I must be frank. Hale learned about the money waiting for Lesbia, and knew that it could be 得るd if the cross was shown to you, Jabez, But Hale could not find the cross.”
“I know why,” said Lesbia quickly, “Bridget kept it 内密に beside her, as my mother thought that Mr. Hale.”—she did not say father—“might take it away. My mother told Bridget that the cross would 証明する that I was her child should any money be waiting for her. Bridget gave the cross to me and made me 約束 to say nothing to Mr. Hale, but to give it to the man I loved. While I was giving it to George, Mr. Hale （機の）カム and then—”
“Then,” said Lord Charvington, “he went to Cookham and told Sargent that you, Walker, had the cross. My wife had already learned through Sargent, who 得るd the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） from Hale, that if Lesbia produced the cross she would 相続する a fortune. Then—she—” he hesitated.
Mrs. Walker took up the explanation. “I can see it all,” she said scornfully, “Helen hated Kate so that she was 決定するd that Lesbia should not get the money and 雇うd Sargent to get the cross. He did through his brother. We know all about that. But did Helen know that Sargent was a どろぼう?”
“No,” said Charvington はっきりと. “Helen is not altogether bad. She did not know of that, nor did she ever 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う that Walter was such a rascal. I was amazed myself when I heard the truth. I only learned it during the last few weeks. But you can see how the cross （機の）カム into my wife’s 所有／入手.”
“Yes,” said George, “but why did she tell the 嘘（をつく） about its 存在 in the library?”
“To 隠す the fact of how she （機の）カム to get it, as she knew perfectly 井戸／弁護士席 that Sargent had 得るd it in some underhand way. She guessed that if she swore I had given her the cross, that no 調査 would be made and, of course,” he 追加するd apologetically, “as my wife, I should have been 強いるd to support her.”
“Philip,” cried Mrs. Walker, rising, “you are as weak as ever.”
“No,” 否定するd the man, “I am strong. Things 存在 as they are, I must make the best of them. Helen is my wife, and to save the honour of my 指名する all that I have told you must be kept silent.”
Mrs. Walker shrugged her stately shoulders. “I shall say nothing,” she 観察するd, “neither will anyone else. As to Walter, he can be left to the 罰 of the 法律. But I am 確かな ,” she 追加するd, with 強調, “that as he knows everything, he will speak if only out of 復讐.”
Charvington winced. “As I have sown, so must I 得る,” he murmured. “Let us hope that out of shame Walter will be silent and not 追加する to my 重荷（を負わせる）, which is already 十分に 激しい. If I have sinned through 証拠不十分, I have repented and I have been punished.”
Mrs. Walker 申し込む／申し出d her 手渡す. “You shall not be punished その上の by me,” she said generously, “you were always good and 肉親，親類d, Philip, but very weak. I held my tongue about you, and I shall 持つ／拘留する it still. As to Walter—”
“Oh,” said Jabez, rising, “I daresay I shall find some means to square him. In the 利益／興味s of all parties, it will be best to give him a sum of money and 補助装置 him to escape. Once abroad he will say nothing, besides which he will not dare to 投機・賭ける 支援する to England. You forget, Lord Charvington, that although he has a 持つ／拘留する on you by knowing so much, you have a 持つ／拘留する on him by what you know. Now if I—”
“Do what you think best,” said Charvington, whose hungry, bloodshot 注目する，もくろむs were 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on Lesbia, “I give you 十分な 許可. But my child—” he held out his 武器 to Lesbia, who rose pale and trembling—“will you not 許す me?” said the man in a 厚い 発言する／表明する. “I have done you wrong, but I have 苦しむd and I will make 修正するs and I—I—”
Lesbia ran 今後 and threw her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck. “I 許す you,” she whispered, “and I will learn to love you, and—and—father!”
Her 発言する／表明する rose in a 叫び声をあげる. Unable to 耐える the joy of this forgiveness, a long-脅すd attack of apoplexy 掴むd on the man’s 弱めるd でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる. He tried to speak, choked, grew purple in the 直面する and fell 十分な length on the 床に打ち倒す from the 武器 of the daughter he had not 定評のある for so many years.
A week later and George was seated beside Lesbia on the 井戸／弁護士席-known （法廷の）裁判 under the famous chestnut tree. Lord Charvington had 回復するd from his apoplectic fit, and was now 進歩ing favourably. For two or three days Lesbia and Mrs. Walker had nursed him; but when Lady Charvington heard of her husband’s illness she （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to The 法廷，裁判所 at once. A furious passage of 武器 took place between her and Mrs. Walker, which resulted in the 敗北・負かす of the latter lady. Her enemy, 存在 Charvington’s wife and mistress of the house, had the 力／強力にする to send away those whom she regarded as interlopers, and she 演習d this 力／強力にする forthwith. Lesbia 出発／死d under the wing of Mrs. Walker, and Charvington was too ill to 妨げる his wife from behaving in this despotic manner.
Mrs. Walker 願望（する）d the girl to come to Medmenham, there to remain until such time as she could be married. But Lesbia, thinking of Tim, 主張するd on returning to Rose Cottage. Jabez 許すd her 十分な money to live on, 未解決の his 手渡すing over to her the 投資するd fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, so there was no difficulty on the 得点する／非難する／２０ of money. Then it was ありそうもない that Hale would come 支援する to see Lesbia, now that she knew the truth; and under the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 充てるd Tim, she could remain 静かに until George 設立する occasion to make her his wife.
But there was another 推論する／理由 why Hale could not come. He was in hiding, for the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） given to the police by Canning—軍隊d, ーするために save himself, to turn king’s 証拠—had resulted in the 逮捕（する） of Tait and Mrs. Petty and several members of the 悪名高い ギャング（団）, whose 指名するs Canning had 供給（する）d. But Hale had managed to escape, likewise Captain Sargent, who had been 警告するd by Maud. That clever young lady, having seen at Jabez’s office that the game was up, did what she could to put the 残り／休憩（する） of the ギャング（団） on the 警報 and then 消えるd like a 泡. Things were in this position when George sat 手渡す in 手渡す with Lesbia under the chestnut tree, discussing the 未来.
“I saw Lord Charvington yesterday,” explained the young man, “and he is now 速く getting better. He 提案するs that we shall get married next month and …を伴って him to the south of フラン. He has a 郊外住宅 there which he will place at our 処分.”
“And Lady Charvington?” asked Lesbia timidly.
“Your stepmother,” said Walker, smiling.
“No,” said Lesbia shuddering, “don’t call her that.”
“Why not? She has behaved 正確に／まさに as a stepmother does—in fiction.”
Lesbia shook her 長，率いる. “I think of her 単に as Lady Charvington—a stranger, and when we are married I shall never 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on her again.”
“I don’t think she wants to see you,” said George drily. “She is still vindictive. It seems that she always loved your father and can never 許す your dead mother for having married him. Thus she visits her 怒り／怒る upon you, my dear. However, what she does or what she says 事柄s little. And for her own sake she will say as little as possible.”
“She is a strange woman,” sighed Lesbia, “and very unhappy.”
“Don’t make any mistake, my dear. Lady Charvington is too hard-hearted to be unhappy. So long as she has her 階級 and her 肩書を与える and her （人が）群がるs of adorers, she cares for no one. Whatever love she may have had for your father she has long since given 完全に to herself.”
“Do Agatha and Lena know that I am their half-sister?”
“No. I was talking about that yesterday to Lord Charvington. As you know he has not been able to do anything because of his illness, but he is only waiting to get on his feet again to put 事柄s straight.”
“In what way?” asked the girl anxiously.
“井戸／弁護士席, you are his daughter, my dear, and he 願望（する）s to 認める you as such in the most public manner.”
“No,” said Lesbia 堅固に and sadly, “that would be useless and would do no good. Such an acknowledgment would only lead to a lot of questions 存在 asked by my father’s friends, and then the whole unhappy 商売／仕事 would be raked up. I don’t want my 哀れな story to be published in the papers, 特に as Mr. Hale’s 指名する is so 悪名高い. Let me marry you 静かに, my dear, and then we can go away to フラン with my father for a few months. I have you, I have the money left to me by my mother, and I have 設立する my real father—the 残り／休憩（する） 事柄s very little.”
George kissed her. “You wise little darling,” he said admiringly, “I think your 決定／判定勝ち（する） is 正確に／まさに what I should 推定する／予想する from your commonsense way of looking at things. I agree with you, that it is best to let sleeping dogs 嘘（をつく）, and not to 動かす up muddy water, and not to—to—what other proverb shall I use, Lesbia?”
“‘Let the dead past bury its dead,’“ she replied, 本気で. “We have had much trouble, and we have been parted. Now the troubles appear to have come to an end and we are together. Let us marry and enjoy our good fortune and be happy in our own small way.”
“Amen! amen! amen!” said George, laughing, “and indeed I think we deserve the good fortune for we did not 辞退する to 耐える the cross.”
“And so have 伸び（る）d the 栄冠を与える of perfect love,” said Lesbia contentedly as she nestled in her lover’s 武器.
The garden was still brilliant with many-hued roses, and the river murmured a joyous song as it flowed tranquilly under the 深く，強烈に blue summer sky. But the blackbird and his mate had gone away with their brood and the nest was 砂漠d. Still other birds remained and other birds were singing lustily of summer joys. Basking in the warm 日光, contented with each other’s company, George and Lesbia passed into that hour of silence, which speaks of love so 深い that no speech is needed. They listened to the birds, to the river, to the whispering of the 微風, and dreamed of a 未来 that would always be happy. They were together, they understood each other, so nothing else 事柄d.
But their golden hour was 乱すd by Tim, who hobbled 負かす／撃墜する the pathway with a 苦しめるd look on his ugly, 肉親，親類d 直面する. The two 推定する／予想するd him, so the arrival was not an 侵入占拠. For several days Lesbia had 主張するd that Tim should explain how much he had known of the many disgraceful things lately 設立する out. Hitherto Tim had 避けるd an explanation, but on that morning he had 厳粛に 約束d to tell what he knew. Therefore, when he 停止（させる）d before the dreaming couple, George roused himself.
“Here is Tim, my darling,” he said with a laugh, “put him in the 証言，証人／目撃する-box.”
“Ye might say the confessional, Masther Garge,” replied Tim, squatting on the 乾燥した，日照りの grass and looking like a good-tempered gnome. “What is it ye want to know, me darlin’ heart?”
“About my father—that is about Mr. Hale,” said Lesbia, who had been 演説（する）／住所d.
“The 禁止（する）d av death on him,” muttered Tim, using an 古代の Irish 誓い. “Sure I knew he wasn’t any kith or 肉親，親類 av yours, 行方不明になる, though by the same 記念品 I niver rightly knew as his lardship was yer father.”
“Tim,” said his young mistress 厳しく, “you told Mrs. Walker in my presence that there was no child with the poor lady who died at Wimbledon.”
“Is ut yer mother ye talk av, 行方不明になる?” asked Tim innocently. “Sure ut was lyin’ I wor, an’ if I hadn’t lied, that divil—ut’s the masther I mane—wud have brought throuble on ye.”
“In what way, Tim?” asked George, looking puzzled.
“Augh, nivir ask me, sor. But wasn’t I always listenin’ and pokin’ an’ pryin’ when that divil—ut’s the masther I mane—had thim dirthy tatterdemalions here? Thaves they wor, an’ 秘かに調査するs, an’ racavers av 盗品, bad luck to thim! The masther caught me 病弱な night an’ larned as I knew av the divilments he wor indulgin’ in. An’ ses he, ‘Tim,’ ses he, if ye breathe 病弱な wurrd I go to gaol, an’ by the same 記念品 I’ll see that 行方不明になる Lesbia goes wid me. 井戸／弁護士席 ye know,’ ses he, ‘as she lies whin callin’ me her father, but if ye tell her I am not,’ ses he, ‘it manes gaol fur us both.’ Augh!” Tim 激しく揺するd in much 苦しめる, “an’ what cud I do, 行方不明になる dear, me not knowin’ the true father av ye.”
“And if you had known, Tim?” asked Lesbia anxiously.
“If I’d known as his lardship wor yer father,” said Tim emphatically, “I wud have gone on me 明らかにする shinbones to ask him to take ye out av this divil’s house. But me masther—bad luck to him!—lied like the father av lies, as he’ll some day go to, an’ 存在 in the dark as it wor, I didn’t dare to let a mouse’s squeak av what I knew come to yer purty ears, 行方不明になる.”
“But you hinted that the cross would bring trouble, Tim.”
“I did that, 行方不明になる. Sure, whin the mother that bore ye died in the arrums av me own mother she guv the crass, ‘an’,’ ses she, wid her last gasp, ‘let me choild have it, whin she grows up to 証明する as she’s me lawful choild. An’ if there’s money comin’,’ ses she, ‘though be the same 記念品, me sister has got it all, the crass may git it fur the choild. But nivir let her see her father,’ ses she, ‘for a bad man he’s 貯蔵所 to me.’“
“Not altogether bad, Tim,” said Lesbia gently, “my mother was deceived. Did she tell Bridget my father’s 指名する?”
“No, 行方不明になる,” said Tim 敏速に, “had she towld, I’d have larned it whin me own mother died, and thin I’d have asked his lardship to take ye from this divil—ut’s the masther I mane. But me mother sid nothin’ for she knew nothin’, save what she towld ye about the crass. ‘And,’ ses me mother to me whin she guv ye the crass, there’ll be throuble over あそこの crass,’ ses she, ‘fur th’ Sight’s on me 存在 近づく me latter end,’ ses she. ‘Throuble there’ll be over the crass, an’ 悲しみ an’ 涙／ほころびs an’ sudden death. But thim who love will 勝利，勝つ （疑いを）晴らす and thim as is bad will come to the 黒人／ボイコット 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な.’“
“There has been trouble certainly, Tim,” said Lesbia sighing, “and the cross both began it and ended it, as your mother 宣言するd it would. But now, thank God,” she turned to place her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する George’s neck, “it’s all over and we shall have no more. Your mother prophesied rightly, Tim, save that there has been no sudden death or 黒人／ボイコット 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, and there isn’t likely to be.”
Tim 激しく揺するd and shook his 抱擁する 長，率いる. “Thim as is goin’ to their long 残り／休憩（する） sees things as thim aloive can’t get a squint at. Me mother foresaw th’ 悲しみ an’ 涙／ほころびs av th’ crass an’ the joy which ye an’ Masther Garge there have now, good luck to both ay ye! So the sudden death an’ the 黒人／ボイコット 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な will come I 疑問 not. But here, me dears,” said Tim, after a pause, “there’s 病弱な thing ye don’t know as I’ll tell ye.”
“And what is that?” asked George, smiling.
“‘Twas me, Masther Garge, as carried ye from the river bank to the room in yonder,” Tim nodded に向かって the cottage. “I wor out fishin’ an’ I saw ye in the moonlight lying on the path, though be me sowl I nivir dreamed ‘twas you. I 列／漕ぐ／騒動d 岸に an’ 設立する ye stunned an’ bound, bad luck to the divil who did ut! I tuke ye into the cottage and called softly to the young misthress there. She thought ‘twas a drame an’ come 負かす／撃墜する to see to you. An’ now ye know, both av ye.”
Lesbia and George looked at one another in astonishment. “Why didn’t you tell us this before?” asked Walker はっきりと. “And why did you bring me to the cottage?”
“Sure now,” said Tim in 負傷させるd トンs, “didn’t I think as ‘twas the masther had been up to some divilment, and didn’t dare spake in 事例／患者 he’d get 行方不明になる Lesbia clapped into gaol ’longside him? But I knew as the masther wud nivir dare to harrum ye in his own house wid 行方不明になる Lesbia by the 味方する av ye, an’ so I brought ye here into his very jaws as it wor. An’ wasn’t I 権利, me dear sor?”
“Yes,” assented Walker 敏速に, “I think you were. It was very clever of you to have 保護するd me in that way, even though it was Canning and not Hale who 強襲，強姦d me. 井戸／弁護士席, Lesbia,” he turned to the girl, “here is another thing made （疑いを）晴らす. やめる a surprise.”
“I hope it is the last surprise,” said the girl, wearily, “I am very tired of 存在 surprised.”
“In that 事例／患者,” said a smooth 発言する／表明する at her 肘, “you will be tired at seeing me.”
Lesbia started to her feet with a cry, and George with an exclamation of astonishment. As to Tim, he 緊急発進するd to his feet with an 誓い. “Augh, murther! murther!” cried the Irishman, “it’s the 黒人／ボイコット divil his own silf.”
“That’s complimentary,” said Hale, who was standing 静める and composed 近づく the lovers. “You were so busily engaged talking, Lesbia, that you did not hear me come 負かす／撃墜する the path.”
“How dare you come here?” said the girl indignantly.
“It’s my own house. I had the 重要な,” retorted Hale coolly. “I opened the 前線 door and entered. Finding no one within I （機の）カム here and find that Tim is giving me away. But I am not so 黒人／ボイコット as I am painted.”
“You are much worse, I daresay,” said George bluntly.
“Oh, you’re there, you lucky young man,” said Hale, raising his eyebrows. “I congratulate you on marrying Lesbia and on getting the money.”
“In spite of all your plotting,” said Walker はっきりと.
Hale sat 負かす／撃墜する on the （法廷の）裁判 with a sudden look of 疲労，（軍の）雑役. He was 冷静な／正味の and smiling and bore himself both shamelessly and dauntlessly. But it was 明らかな that he behaved thus out of bravado. In spite of his boldness, and of the fact that he was dressed as carefully as ever, he was 完全に ill and had his 支援する to the 塀で囲む.
“You had better leave this place,” said Lesbia, to her lover, “the police are 追跡（する）ing for you.”
“Someone else is 追跡（する）ing for me,” said Hale gloomily, “Maud Ellis is on my 跡をつける 断言するing vengeance.”
“Why should she?”
“Because to get the money and induce her to play her part, I 約束d to marry her. I have no 意向 of doing so. Then again, for my own safety, I have sent a communication to the police 申し込む／申し出ing to tell all I know about Tait and his ギャング（団） on 条件 that I am let off. Maud, confound her, has 設立する this out, and 断言するs to have my life.”
“She would scarcely go so far as that,” said George scornfully.
“Oh, I think so,” said Hale 静かに, “she can’t show herself, as she is in danger from the police also, and so will 復讐 herself as she best can. I don’t think there’s much she would stick at. I caught sight of her on the London 壇・綱領・公約 as I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する this morning, so I 推定する／予想する she will follow me to this house. There will be trouble unless you can 援助（する） me to get away.”
“How can we 構内／化合物 a 重罪?” asked George, frowning.
“It is better than to see a 悲劇,” retorted Hale. “I am not afraid of Maud unless she takes me by surprise; but that is just what she will do. I am not your father, Lesbia, as you know now, and perhaps I have not been 肉親，親類d in my 治療. All the same I ask you to 演習 that 肉親，親類d nature which you always 宣言するd you 所有するd, and give me fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs to get abroad with. Once across the Channel I can 転換 for myself.”
“I have not got fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs,” said Lesbia hesitating. 不正に as Hale had 扱う／治療するd her she yet wished to 補助装置 him, and truly he was in 広大な／多数の／重要な need of the coals of 解雇する／砲火／射撃 which she could heap upon his 長，率いる.
“You can soon get it,” said Hale 熱望して. “Charvington will give you anything. Send Walker to ask him for the money and I can remain 隠すd in the cottage until he returns.”
The lovers looked at one another. Both were inclined to 補助装置 the 哀れな man, little as he deserved 親切 at their 手渡すs. Tim, with a grim 直面する, stood 中立の, but 存在 of a いっそう少なく 許すing nature, would 喜んで have pitched his old master into the river had Lesbia but 解除するd a finger. But she gave no 調印する, so Tim waited. It was hard to say what would have happened had not 運命／宿命 decided the 事柄.
The four people in the garden were so 深く，強烈に engaged in conversation that they did not 観察する a boat crossing the river from the opposite shore, some distance above the garden. Tim, indeed, did catch a glimpse of a （手先の）技術 持つ／拘留するing two people, but did not take much notice. The boat reached the 近づく shore and then dropped 負かす／撃墜する と一緒に the bank until it was 直接／まっすぐに abreast of the chestnut tree. Then for the first time, George and Lesbia looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する at the sound of dipping oars. Hale raised his 長，率いる and looked also. The next moment there was the sharp 報告（する）／憶測 of a revolver and he rolled off the （法廷の）裁判 発射 through the breast. Twice again the revolver spoke and twice Hale was 負傷させるd. Maud Ellis was a sure 発射.
“There,” cried she, flinging the 武器 岸に to Lesbia, “you can finish him off. He betrayed my uncle, he betrayed me, he betrayed us all. Only Sargent, who is 列／漕ぐ／騒動ing me, and I have escaped. Good-bye, Lesbia, you have your lover—my lover—the man I adore. I hope you’ll be happy. I have done 司法（官） on that blackguard, so I am going to （疑いを）晴らす. You’ll never see me again, and you can thank your 星／主役にするs that I did not kill you 同様に as that scoundrel there. George—good-bye—good-bye.”
She sat 負かす／撃墜する quickly in the boat, which was already receding 速く from the garden. Sargent 明らかに had not 推定する／予想するd that Maud would have been so 徹底的な in her vengeance and could be seen talking 怒って to her. He 列／漕ぐ／騒動d with all his might across the river, let the boat drift 負かす／撃墜する-stream and leaped 岸に. Maud followed alertly and the two 始める，決める off running 速く. Where they went, or how they escaped George never knew; but that was the last seen of them in England.
一方／合間 Lesbia was on her 膝s beside the wretched man who had done her so much 害（を与える）, 努力する／競うing to 信頼できる his 負傷させるs with her handkerchief. Tim already had run up the path shouting for the police, and George was about to follow, as he 手配中の，お尋ね者 Maud to be 逮捕（する）d for her dastardly 罪，犯罪, when Hale opened his 注目する，もくろむs.
“Are you there, Lesbia?” he asked faintly. “It’s no use my asking for your forgiveness, as I hate 存在 a こそこそ動く at the last moment. I have lived bad and I have died bad. But I can say this, that you are the 単独の human 存在 I 悔いる having 負傷させるd. You are a fool, as you have always been, like your father—but you are a 甘い fool. And I—I—” he choked.
“Hush! hush!” said Lesbia distractedly. “George, take him into the house, and fetch the doctor. We must save him—”
“No,” gasped Hale with a flash of energy, “don’t save me to let me rot in gaol. Maud has done me a good turn after all. I die and—and—I cheat—I cheat the 法律,” he opened his 注目する，もくろむs again and 星／主役にするd at the two pale 直面するs, then smiled. “God bless you,” he gasped, “oh, to think that I should bless—” he laughed, but the 成果／努力 was too 広大な／多数の／重要な and he fell 支援する dead.
At the same moment Tim （機の）カム running 負かす／撃墜する with a policeman at his heels.
“It’s too late, Tim, he is dead,” said Lesbia faintly.
“Dead is ut?” muttered Tim, 星／主役にするing and crossing himself. “Then me mother wor 権利 in all she said. Sudden death and the 黒人／ボイコット 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な. Augh! Sure ‘twas the truth me mother spake afther all.”
The 郊外住宅 owned by Lord Charvington at Nice was beautifully 据えるd, beautifully furnished, and beautifully built. Endless money had been spent upon it to make it as perfect as any human habitation could be. Lady Charvington was 特に fond of it, and her extravagance was evident both in the house and in the lovely gardens. 広大な／多数の／重要な was her 激怒（する） when she heard that her husband had 招待するd George and his young wife and her arch-enemy Mrs. Walker to stay there with him. But she was even more angry when she learned that Charvington had made a 解放する／自由な gift of the 郊外住宅 to his daughter.
“His 行為／行う has always been atrocious,” said Lady Charvington to Jabez, who was the 単独の person to whom she could speak of such things, since for her own sake she was 軍隊d to 持つ／拘留する her tongue to the world 捕まらないで, “but this is the worst thing he has ever done. How dare he give my 郊外住宅 to that horrid girl?”
“He has every 権利 to,” said Jabez drily, “as the 郊外住宅 is Lord Charvington’s own 所有物／資産／財産. And I beg leave to 明言する／公表する that I do not consider young Mrs. Walker a horrid girl. She is very 甘い, and is 耐えるing her good fortune as modestly as she bore her bad luck bravely.”
“I hate her,” said Lady Charvington fervently.
“Why, may I ask?”
“Because I hated her mother. I always loved Charvington, and she took him from me.”
“But you got him in the end,” Jabez reminded her.
“Got him. Yes, I got the rags and tatters of the passion he had for that detestable Kate Morse. I never forgave her while she lived, and I certainly shall not 許す her now she is dead.”
“Very good; but you needn’t hate her daughter,” expostulated Jabez 真面目に; “consider how unhappy the poor girl has been, and through no fault of her own. Even now—in deference to her own wish, I 収容する／認める—she is not 定評のある by her father, 公然と at least.”
“I don’t care,” cried Lady Charvington, with all the venom of an angry woman. “I hate the girl, and I shall always hate her. But I didn’t come here to listen to your 見解（をとる）s, Mr. Jabez. What I wish to know is if I can 主張する that my 郊外住宅 shall be given 支援する to me.”
“No,” said Jabez, and very glad he was to be able to reply in the 消極的な, “the 郊外住宅 was never settled on you, and Lord Charvington has a perfect 権利 to 取引，協定 as he pleases with his own 所有物／資産／財産.”
“It is my 所有物／資産／財産, and Charvington’s a brute. I wonder that I ever loved him—indeed I do,” cried the lady 熱心に, “and to think of that horrid girl getting the husband she 手配中の，お尋ね者 and the fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, and my 郊外住宅, and—oh!” she stamped, “it makes one 疑問 if there is a Providence.”
“I 恐れる,” said Jabez 厳粛に, as she rose to 出発／死, “that some day, if you 耐える such ill-will に向かって one who has never 負傷させるd you, that you will find there is a Providence.”
“Pooh! pooh! That’s all goody-goody talk,” said Lady Charvington contemptuously, “but that I have to think of Agatha and Lena I should get a 分離 from my husband. As it is, I shall spend as much money as I can, and enjoy myself in my own way. I don’t want to see him.”
“I fancy you’ll see very little of him,” said Jabez drily, as he …を伴ってd her to the door. “Lord Charvington is fond of a 静かな life. All you have to do is to enjoy your position and the ample income which he 許すs you, and 持つ／拘留する your tongue about these family troubles.”
“Oh, of course you are on his 味方する,” cried Lady Charvington in a 激怒（する）. “I really believe that you 示唆するd he should give that 汚い girl my 郊外住宅.”
“容赦 me,” said the solicitor, skilfully dodging the question, “it never was your 郊外住宅.”
“It was, and she has stolen it. I only hope she’ll be as 完全に unhappy as she 井戸／弁護士席 can be, with the fool she’s married and her disagreeable mother-in-法律. Judith was always horrid.”
“I 恐れる you will be disappointed. Young Mrs. Walker adores her mother-in-法律, and is adored in turn. They are, as you know, all at the 郊外住宅 with Lord Charvington and, as I gather, perfectly happy.”
“How disgusting,” cried Lady Charvington vindictively, “but I shall wait for the 干渉，妨害 of an overruling Providence. Some day the sins of the lot of them will come home to them, and they will be 完全に 哀れな.”
“And your ladyship’s sins?” 問い合わせd Jabez very 厳粛に.
“Sins,” she 星／主役にするd, “I have 非，不，無.” After which speech, which 完全に silenced the lawyer, so taken aback was he by its amazing impudence, she took her 出発. All the same she also took his advice and said nothing of what had happened in 関係 with the 事件／事情／状勢s of the amethyst cross. And in time—as she could not keep up a 敵意を持った 態度 for ever—she 設立する it politic to smooth over things with her worried husband. But she never forgave Lesbia to her dying day.
Not that Lesbia cared. She was 絶対 happy with her husband and mother-in-法律 and father at the 郊外住宅. The income derived from her mother 産する／生じるd over two thousand a year, and this had been 補足（する）d by Lord Charvington, anxious to make 修正するs. What with a large income and a lovely 郊外住宅, and a handsome, affectionate husband, Lesbia was very fortunate indeed, and felt やめる glad that she had gone through so much trouble, to get to such a goal. Something of this sort she said to her father one evening after dinner.
The party were seated on the terrace which overlooked the 深く，強烈に blue waters of the Mediterranean. At the moment, these were dyed with rosy hues from the setting sun. Mrs. Walker, looking much いっそう少なく 厳しい and much more composed, was seated in a 深い arm-議長，司会を務める 近づく Lesbia, whom she could scarcely 耐える out of her sight. Lord Charvington, now looking wonderfully hale and hearty—for it was six months since his attack of apoplexy—sat 近づく a small 一連の会議、交渉／完成する （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する upon which stood coffee and liqueurs. George lounged about with a cigar, casting looks of affection on Lesbia. The quartette, arrayed in evening dress まっただ中に beautiful surroundings, looked 完全に happy and 井戸／弁護士席-to-do. After the 嵐／襲撃する had come the 静める, and when 解任するing the 嵐／襲撃する, as いつかs she could not help doing, Lesbia always spoke cheerfully.
“The trouble was 価値（がある） going through, to come to this,” she said, smiling in a happy manner.
“I think so too, dear,” 観察するd George, who was always hovering in her 周辺. “And I think we have learned the lesson which those very troubles were sent to teach.”
“What lesson?” asked Lord Charvington lazily.
“To 信用 in God.”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Walker, who was knitting, “you and Lesbia have learned that, and I have learned a lesson also. I have learned to be more 同情的な and more 自由主義の-minded. We are all mortal, and no one has any 権利 to 裁判官 another person not knowing that person’s 誘惑s.”
“Do you allude to Walter?” asked Charvington.
“Yes. He behaved 不正に, I 許す; but then his will was not strong enough to struggle against the evil that was in him. And after all,” Mrs. Walker laid 負かす／撃墜する her knitting, “he was terribly punished. He was snatched out of life unprepared. I hope he has 設立する mercy. But the evil that he did lived after him. 式のs! 式のs!”
“I think Tait and his ギャング（団） 設立する that was so,” said George grimly. “From what was said at the 裁判，公判, it seemed that Hale was the soul of the ギャング（団）, even though Tait 提起する／ポーズをとるd as the 長，率いる. Canning, of course, escaped because he turned king’s 証拠 and is now in Italy; but Tait got a long 宣告，判決.”
“Mrs. Petty and the 残り／休憩（する） of the ギャング（団） also,” 観察するd Charvington, “but Maud Ellis and Alfred Sargent escaped.”
“They were very lucky,” said George reflectively. “The police, advised by Tim, were on their 跡をつける almost at once, but they never caught them. As they were not disguised I wonder that they ever escaped.”
“Hale was not disguised either, I heard you say,” 発言／述べるd Charvington. “It seems to me that audacity favoured the lot of them. Hale would have escaped also, I 疑問 not, had he not been 発射 by that wretched woman.”
“Why do you shudder, George?” asked Mrs. Walker, at this point.
“I am thinking how easily she could have 発射 Lesbia,” said George reluctantly. “She had two or three 発射s left after she polished off Hale. But she flung the revolver 岸に and made a sentimental speech wishing myself and Lesbia good luck. I should have thought—but there,” George sighed, “no man can understand a woman.”
“No woman can understand a man,” said Lesbia, laughing. “But I am glad Maud did not shoot me. Where is she now?”
Charvington 除去するd his cigar. “I have 推論する／理由 to believe, from some facts which （機の）カム to Jabez’s ears, that she has married Alfred Sargent and is engaged in making trouble in a South American 共和国.”
“Sargent is not strong enough to do much,” 反対するd George.
Mrs. Walker shook her 長，率いる. “I believe Alfred Sargent was a much cleverer man than his 外見 令状d,” she said はっきりと. “He looked like a fool, but he 行為／法令／行動するd like a wise man. Not only did he escape, but he managed to carry off his thievish 収入s. Then look how cleverly he behaved in society in never 存在 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd. Yet he stole—as we learned at the 裁判，公判 of Tait and the 残り／休憩（する）—at balls, at weddings, from 私的な houses, and ゆすり，恐喝d any number of people. A 危険に clever man, I call him.”
“井戸／弁護士席, don’t let us talk any more about him,” said Charvington impatiently, “Maud is clever if you like, and probably will end in 課すing him on some second-率 共和国, as its 大統領, even though he is a foreigner. I believe that there is no end to that woman’s ambition. But he and she are both out of our lives. Also Hale is dead, and as Lesbia has now changed her 指名する, she will not be connected with the sordid past in any way. Let us talk of something more agreeable.”
“The amethyst cross for instance,” said Lesbia pointedly.
Charvington wriggled. “Why? That belongs to the disagreeable past.”
“It taught George and me a lesson,” said Lesbia 本気で, “and I am sorry that it has been lost sight of.”
“It has not been lost sight of,” said Charvington, after a pause. “Jabez got it from Hale and 回復するd it to me. But I did not show it to you, Lesbia child, because I thought that the sight of it would be painful.”
“Not now, that I have learned its lesson. Where is it, father?”
“Call Tim.”
Lesbia rang a silver bell which was on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and すぐに Tim, looking more grotesque and more like a gnome than ever, appeared. He was with the young couple as the majordomo of their small 世帯, and enjoyed himself hugely. “Tim,” ordered Lord Charvington, giving him a 重要な, “go to my 熟考する／考慮する and open my 派遣（する） box. Bring me the morocco 事例／患者 you will find in it. A red morocco 事例／患者.”
“Yes, yer lardship,” said the majordomo 厳粛に, as he 出発／死d.
“Are you sure you want the cross, Lesbia?” asked Mrs. Walker 本気で.
“Yes. Whenever I forget to be 肉親，親類d and thoughtful, whenever I am inclined to 裁判官 others 厳しく, the cross will remind me of my own shortcomings.”
“You have 非，不，無, dear,” said George 情愛深く.
“George,” Mrs. Walker smiled, “you are spoiling her.”
“I know someone else who spoils me more,” whispered Lesbia roguishly, and Mrs. Walker smoothed the girl’s hair.
At this moment Tim returned with the 事例／患者. Lord Charvington opened it and took out the ornament which glittered in the rosy hues of sunset.
“Presarve us!” whispered Tim crossing himself. “The unlucky crass!”
“Lucky now, Tim,” said Charvington, slipping a slender watch-chain he wore from his waistcoat. “It 設立する me my daughter. Here, Lesbia,” he threaded the 宙返り飛行 at the 最高の，を越す of the cross, “you can wear it now.”
Lesbia bent her 長，率いる and her father threw the chain on her neck. The amethyst cross gleamed with purple 解雇する／砲火／射撃 on her white bosom, a symbol of all that had passed and a symbol also of a brighter 未来. “I shall always wear it,” said Lesbia with serious lovely 注目する，もくろむs.
“‘辞退する and lose,’“ said George meditatively, “井戸／弁護士席 we have not 辞退するd the cross although I daresay had it been in our 力／強力にするs to do so we should have shirked the 重荷（を負わせる）.”
“Thank Heaven you were not 許すd to, for the 耐えるing of the 重荷（を負わせる） has taught you much,” said Mrs. Walker devoutly.
“It has earned me the 栄冠を与える of perfect love,” said George, 製図／抽選 Lesbia to his breast.
“And that is 価値（がある） everything,” Lesbia replied, kissing him.
This 場所／位置 is 十分な of FREE ebooks - 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia