第36章

Iwasanceadairkwomanmyself，beforemyhairwasgray。Haudyerpeace，Francie，andwatchthecairds。“ IwatchedthecardsasIwastold。Thereweresevenleftonthetable。Myauntremovedtwofromoneendoftherowandtwofromtheother，anddesiredmetocallthetwooutermostofthethreecardsnowleftonthetable。IcalledtheAceofClubsandtheTenofDiamonds。MyauntChanceliftedhereyestotheceilingwithalookofdevoutgratitudewhichsorelytriedmymother’spatience。 TheAceofClubsandtheTenofDiamonds，takentogether，signified——first，goodnews(evidentlythenewsofthegroom’splace)；secondly，ajourneythatlaybeforeme(pointingplainlytomyjourneyto-morrow！)；thirdlyandlastly，asumofmoney(probablythegroom’swages！)waitingtofinditswayintomypockets。Havingtoldmyfortuneintheseencouragingterms，myauntdeclinedtocarrytheexperimentanyfurther。“Eh，lad！it’sacleantemptingo’Proavidencetoaskmairo’thecairdsthanthecairdshavetauldusnoo。Gaeyerwaysto-morrowtothegreathoose。Adairkwomanwillmeetyeatthegate；andshe’llhaveahandingettingyethegroom’splace，wi’a’thegratificationsandpairquisitesappertainingtothesame。And，mebbe，whenyerpoaket’sfullo’money，ye’llno’beforgettingyerauntChance，maintainingherainunblemishedwidowhood——wi’Proavidenceassisting——onthrattypundsayear！“ IpromisedtoremembermyauntChance(whohadthedefect，bytheway，ofbeingaterriblygreedypersonaftermoney)onthenexthappyoccasionwhenmypooremptypocketsweretobefilledatlast。Thisdone，Ilookedatmymother。Shehadagreedtotakehersisterforumpirebetweenus，andhersisterhadgivenitinmyfavor。Sheraisednomoreobjections。Silently，shegotonherfeet，andkissedme，andsighedbitterly——andsolefttheroom。MyauntChanceshookherhead。“Idoubt，Francie，yerpuirmitherhasbutaheathennotionofthevairtueofthecairds！“ BydaylightthenextmorningIsetforthonmyjourney。IlookedbackatthecottageasIopenedthegardengate。Atonewindowwasmymother，withherhandkerchieftohereyes。AttheotherstoodmyauntChance，holdinguptheQueenofSpadesbywayofencouragingmeatstarting。Iwavedmyhandstobothofthemintokenoffarewell，andsteppedoutbrisklyintotheroad。ItwasthenthelastdayofFebruary。Bepleasedtoremember，inconnectionwiththis，thatthefirstofMarchwastheday，andtwoo’clockinthemorningthehourofmybirth。 V NowyouknowhowIcametoleavehome。Thenextthingtotellis，whathappenedonthejourney。 Ireachedthegreathouseinreasonablygoodtimeconsideringthedistance。Attheveryfirsttrialofit，theprophecyofthecardsturnedouttobewrong。Thepersonwhometmeatthelodgegatewasnotadarkwoman——infact，notawomanatall——butaboy。Hedirectedmeonthewaytotheservants’offices；andthereagainthecardswereallwrong。Iencountered，notonewoman，butthree—— andnotoneofthethreewasdark。IhavestatedthatIamnotsuperstitious，andIhavetoldthetruth。ButImustownthatI didfeelacertainflutteringattheheartwhenImademybowtothesteward，andtoldhimwhatbusinesshadbroughtmetothehouse。HisanswercompletedthediscomfitureofauntChance’sfortune-telling。Myill-luckstillpursuedme。Thatverymorninganothermanhadappliedforthegroom’splace，andhadgotit。 IswallowedmydisappointmentaswellasIcould，andthankedthesteward，andwenttotheinninthevillagetogettherestandfoodwhichIsorelyneededbythistime。 BeforestartingonmyhomewardwalkImadesomeinquiriesattheinn，andascertainedthatImightsaveafewmiles，onmyreturn，byfollowinganewroad。Furnishedwithfullinstructions，severaltimesrepeated，astothevariousturningsIwastotake，Isetforth，andwalkedontilltheeveningwithonlyonestoppageforbreadandcheese。Justasitwasgettingtowarddark，theraincameonandthewindbegantorise；andIfoundmyself，tomakemattersworse，inapartofthecountrywithwhichIwasentirelyunacquainted，thoughIguessedmyselftobesomefifteenmilesfromhome。ThefirsthouseIfoundtoinquireat，wasalonelyroadsideinn，standingontheoutskirtsofathickwood。Solitaryastheplacelooked，itwaswelcometoalostmanwhowasalsohungry，thirsty，footsore，andwet。Thelandlordwascivilandrespectable-looking；andthepriceheaskedforabedwasreasonableenough。Iwasgrievedtodisappointmymother。Buttherewasnoconveyancetobehad，andIcouldgonofartherafootthatnight。Mywearinessfairlyforcedmetostopattheinn。 ImaysayformyselfthatIamatemperateman。Mysuppersimplyconsistedofsomerashersofbacon，asliceofhome-madebread，andapintofale。Ididnotgotobedimmediatelyafterthismoderatemeal，butsatupwiththelandlord，talkingaboutmybadprospectsandmylongrunofill-luck，anddivergingfromthesetopicstothesubjectsofhorse-fleshandracing。Nothingwassaid，eitherbymyself，myhost，orthefewlaborerswhostrayedintothetap-room，whichcould，intheslightestdegree，excitemymind，orsetmyfancy——whichisonlyasmallfancyatthebestoftimes——playingtrickswithmycommonsense。 Atalittleaftereleventhehousewasclosed。Iwentroundwiththelandlord，andheldthecandlewhilethedoorsandlowerwindowswerebeingsecured。Inoticedwithsurprisethestrengthofthebolts，bars，andiron-sheathedshutters。 “Yousee，weareratherlonelyhere，“saidthelandlord。“Weneverhavehadanyattemptstobreakinyet，butit’salwaysaswelltobeonthesafeside。Whennobodyissleepinghere，Iamtheonlymaninthehouse。Mywifeanddaughteraretimid，andtheservantgirltakesafterhermissuses。Anotherglassofale，beforeyouturnin？——No！——Well，howsuchasobermanasyoucomestobeoutofaplaceismorethanIcanunderstandforone——Here’swhereyou’retosleep。You’retheonlylodgerto-night，andIthinkyou’llsaymymissushasdoneherbesttomakeyoucomfortable。You’requitesureyouwon’thaveanotherglassofale？——Verywell。Goodnight。“ Itwashalf-pastelevenbytheclockinthepassageaswewentupstairstothebedroom。Thewindowlookedoutonthewoodatthebackofthehouse。 Ilockedmydoor，setmycandleonthechestofdrawers，andwearilygotmereadyforbed。Thebleakwindwasstillblowing，andthesolemn，surgingmoanofitinthewoodwasverydrearytohearthroughthenightsilence。Feelingstrangelywakeful，I resolvedtokeepthecandlealightuntilIbegantogrowsleepy。 Thetruthis，Iwasnotquitemyself。Iwasdepressedinmindbymydisappointmentofthemorning；andIwaswornoutinbodybymylongwalk。Betweenthetwo，IownIcouldn’tfacetheprospectoflyingawakeinthedarkness，listeningtothedismalmoanofthewindinthewood。 SleepstoleonmebeforeIwasawareofit；myeyesclosed，andI fellofftorest，withouthavingsomuchasthoughtofextinguishingthecandle。 ThenextthingthatIrememberwasafaintshiveringthatranthroughmefromheadtofoot，andadreadfulsinkingpainatmyheart，suchasIhadneverfeltbefore。Theshiveringonlydisturbedmyslumbers——thepainwokemeinstantly。InonemomentI passedfromastateofsleeptoastateofwakefulness——myeyeswideopen——mymindclearonasuddenasifbyamiracle。Thecandlehadburneddownnearlytothelastmorseloftallow，buttheunsnuffedwickhadjustfallenoff，andthelightwas，forthemoment，fairandfull。 Betweenthefootofthebedandtheclosetdoor，Isawapersoninmyroom。Thepersonwasawoman，standinglookingatme，withaknifeinherhand。Itdoesnocredittomycouragetoconfessit—— butthetruthISthetruth。Iwasstruckspeechlesswithterror。 ThereIlaywithmyeyesonthewoman；therethewomanstood(withtheknifeinherhand)withHEReyesonME。 Shesaidnotawordaswestaredeachotherintheface；butshemovedafteralittle——movedslowlytowardtheleft-handsideofthebed。 Thelightfellfullonherface。Afair，finewoman，withyellowishflaxenhair，andlightgrayeyes，withadroopinthelefteyelid。Inoticedthesethingsandfixedtheminmymind，beforeshewasquiteroundatthesideofthebed。Withoutsayingaword；withoutanychangeinthestonystillnessofherface； withoutanynoisefollowingherfootfall，shecamecloserandcloser；stoppedatthebed-head；andliftedtheknifetostabme。 Ilaidmyarmovermythroattosaveit；but，asIsawtheblowcoming，Ithrewmyhandacrossthebedtotherightside，andjerkedmybodyoverthatway，justastheknifecamedown，likelightning，withinahair’sbreadthofmyshoulder。 Myeyesfixedonherarmandherhand——shegavemetimetolookatthemassheslowlydrewtheknifeoutofthebed。Awhite，well- shapedarm，withaprettydownlyinglightlyoverthefairskin。A delicatelady’shand，withapinkflushroundthefingernails。 Shedrewtheknifeout，andpassedbackagainslowlytothefootofthebed；shestoppedthereforamomentlookingatme；thenshecameonwithoutsayingaword；withoutanychangeinthestonystillnessofherface；withoutanynoisefollowingherfootfall—— cameontothesideofthebedwhereInowlay。 Gettingnearme，sheliftedtheknifeagain，andIdrewmyselfawaytotheleftside。Shestruck，asbeforerightintothemattress，withaswiftdownwardactionofherarm；andshemissedme，asbefore；byahair’sbreadth。ThistimemyeyeswanderedfromHER totheknife。Itwaslikethelargeclaspkniveswhichlaboringmenusetocuttheirbreadandbaconwith。Herdelicatelittlefingersdidnothidemorethantwothirdsofthehandle；Inoticedthatitwasmadeofbuckhorn，cleanandshiningasthebladewas，andlookinglikenew。 Forthesecondtimeshedrewtheknifeoutofthebed，andsuddenlyhiditawayinthewidesleeveofhergown。Thatdone，shestoppedbythebedsidewatchingme。ForaninstantIsawherstandinginthatposition——thenthewickofthespentcandlefelloverintothesocket。Theflamedwindledtoalittlebluepoint，andtheroomgrewdark。 Amoment，orless，ifpossible，passedso——andthenthewickflaredup，smokily，forthelasttime。Myeyeswerestilllookingforherovertheright-handsideofthebedwhenthelastflashoflightcame。LookasImight，Icouldseenothing。Thewomanwiththeknifewasgone。 Ibegantogetbacktomyselfagain。Icouldfeelmyheartbeating；Icouldhearthewoefulmoaningofthewindinthewood；I couldleapupinbed，andgivethealarmbeforesheescapedfromthehouse。“Murder！Wakeupthere！Murder！“ Nobodyansweredtothealarm。Iroseandgropedmywaythroughthedarknesstothedooroftheroom。Bythatwayshemusthavegotin。Bythatwayshemusthavegoneout。 Thedooroftheroomwasfastlocked，exactlyasIhadleftitongoingtobed！Ilookedatthewindow。Fastlockedtoo！ Hearingavoiceoutside，Iopenedthedoor。Therewasthelandlord，comingtowardmealongthepassage，withhisburningcandleinonehand，andhisgunintheother。 “Whatisit？“hesays，lookingatmeinnoveryfriendlyway。 Icouldonlyanswerinawhisper，“Awoman，withaknifeinherhand。Inmyroom。Afair，yellow-hairedwoman。Shejabbedatmewiththeknife，twiceover。“ Heliftedhiscandle，andlookedatmesteadilyfromheadtofoot。 “Sheseemstohavemissedyou——twiceover。“ “Idodgedtheknifeasitcamedown。Itstruckthebedeachtime。 Goin，andsee。“ Thelandlordtookhiscandleintothebedroomimmediately。Inlessthanaminutehecameoutagainintothepassageinaviolentpassion。 “Thedevilflyawaywithyouandyourwomanwiththeknife！Thereisn’tamarkinthebedclothesanywhere。Whatdoyoumeanbycomingintoaman’splaceandfrighteninghisfamilyoutoftheirwitsbyadream？“ Adream？Thewomanwhohadtriedtostabme，notalivinghumanbeinglikemyself？Ibegantoshakeandshiver。Thehorrorsgotholdofmeatthebarethoughtofit。 “I’llleavethehouse，“Isaid。“Betterbeoutontheroadintherainanddark，thanbackinthatroom，afterwhatI’veseeninit。 Lendmethelighttogetmyclothesby，andtellmewhatI’mtopay。“ Thelandlordledthewaybackwithhislightintothebedroom。 “Pay？“sayshe。“You’llfindyourscoreontheslatewhenyougodownstairs。Iwouldn’thavetakenyouinforallthemoneyyou’vegotaboutyou，ifIhadknownyourdreaming，screechingwaysbeforehand。Lookatthebed——where’sthecutofaknifeinit？ Lookatthewindow——isthelockbursted？Lookatthedoor(whichI heardyoufastenyourself)——isitbrokein？Amurderingwomanwithaknifeinmyhouse！Yououghttobeashamedofyourself！“ Myeyesfollowedhishandasitpointedfirsttothebed——thentothewindow——thentothedoor。Therewasnogainsayingit。Thebedsheetwasassoundasonthedayitwasmade。Thewindowwasfast。 Thedoorhungonitshingesassteadyasever。Ihuddledmyclothesonwithoutspeaking。Wewentdownstairstogether。I lookedattheclockinthebar-room。Thetimewastwentyminutespasttwointhemorning。Ipaidmybill，andthelandlordletmeout。Therainhadceased；butthenightwasdark，andthewindwasbleakerthanever。Littledidthedarkness，orthecold，orthedoubtaboutthewayhomemattertoME。Mymindwasawayfromallthesethings。Mymindwasfixedonthevisioninthebedroom。 WhathadIseentryingtomurderme？Thecreatureofadream？Orthatothercreaturefromtheworldbeyondthegrave，whommencallghost？IcouldmakenothingofitasIwalkedalonginthenight； Ihadmadenothingbyitbymidday——whenIstoodatlast，aftermanytimesmissingmyroad，onthedoorstepofhome。