cw.imarriedadeadman-第37部分

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intention　to　kill　him。　But　having　waited　to　see　if　he　would　move　again；　and　seeing　that　he　did　not；　but　lay　as　he　had　fallen；　then　and　only　then　I　refrained　from　firing　it　any　more　and　left　the　place。
　I　had　myself　returned　to　my　own　home　in　the　same　taxi　that　had　brought　me。　Within　a　short　time　after；　I　became　extremely　ill　from　the　excitement　and　strain　I　had　undergone。　And　now；　knowing　that　I　am　dying；　and　being　in　full　possession　of　my　faculties　and　with　full　realization　of　what　I　am　doing；　I　wish　to　make　this　statement　before　I　pass　away　and　have　it；　in　the　case　of　wrongful　accusation　of　others；　should　that　occur；　brought　to　the　attention　of　those　duly　constituted　to　deal　with　the　matter。　But　only　in　such　case；　not　otherwise。
　
　（Signed）　Grace　Parmentier　Hazzard。
　（Witnessed　and　attested）
　Tyrus　Winthrop；　Att'y　at　Law。〃
　
　She　reached　the　downstairs　doorway　with　it　too　late。　The　doorway　was　empty　by　the　time　she　swayed　that　far；　and　clung　there；　all　dazed　and　disheveled。　They'd　gone；　and　he'd　gone　with　them。
　She　just　stood　there　in　the　doorway。　Empty　in　an　empty　doorway。
　
　
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　And　then；　there　he　was　at　last。
　He　was　so　very　real；　so　photographically　real　down　there；　that　paradoxically；　she　couldn't　quite　believe　she　was　seeing　him。　The　very　herringbone　weave　of　his　coat　stood　out；　as　if　a　magnifying　glass　were　being　held　to　the　pattern；　for　her　special　inspection。　The　haggardness　of　his　face；　the　faint　trace　of　shadow　where　he　needed　a　shave；　she　could　see　everything　about　him　so　clearly；　as　if　he　were　much　nearer　than　he　was。　Fatigue；　maybe；　did　that；　by　some　reverse　process　of　concentration。　Or　eyes　dilated　from　long　straining　to　see　him；　so　that　now　they　saw　him　with　abnormal　clarity。
　Anyway；　there　he　was。
　He　turned；　and　came　in　toward　the　house。　And　just　before　he　took　the　final　step　that　would　have　carried　him　too　far　in　under　her　to　be　in　sight　any　more；　his　eyes　went　up　to　the　window　and　he　saw　her。
　〃Bill；〃　she　said　silently　through　the　glass；　and　her　two　hands　flattened　to　the　pane；　as　if　framing　the　unheard　word　into　a　benediction。
　〃Patrice；〃　he　said　silently；　from　down　below；　and　though　she　didn't　hear　him；　didn't　even　see　his　lips　move；　she　knew　that　was　what　he　said。　Just　her　name。　So　little；　so　much。
　Suddenly　she'd　fled　from　the　room　as　madly　as　though　she'd　just　been　scalded。　The　upflung　curtain　settled　down　again　to　true；　and　the　backflung　door　ricocheted　back　again　toward　closure；　and　she　was　already　gone。　The　baby's　wondering　head　turned　after　her　far　too　slowly　to　catch　her　in　her　sight
　Then　she　stopped　short　again；　below　the　turn　of　the　stairs；　and　waited　for　him　there；　unable　to　move　any　further。　Stood　waiting　for　him　to　e　to　her。
　He　left　his　hat；　just　as　though　this　were　any　other　time　he　was　returning　home；　and　came　on　up　to　where　she　was　standing。　And　somehow　her　head；　as　if　it　were　tired　of　being　all　alone；　went　down　upon　his　shoulder　and　stayed　there　against　his　own。
　They　didn't　speak　at　first　Just　stood　there　pressed　together；　heads　close。　There　was　no　message；　there　was　only…being　together。
　〃I'm　back；　Patrice；〃　was　all　he　said　at　last。
　She　shuddered　a　little　and　nestled　closer。　〃Bill；　now　what　will　they…？〃
　〃Nothing。　It's　over。　It's　already　through。　At　least；　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。　That　was　just　for　purposes　of　identification。　I　had　to　go　with　them　and　look　at　him；　that　was　all。〃
　〃Bill；　I　opened　this。　She　says…〃
　She　gave　it　to　him。　He　read　it。
　〃Did　you　show　it　to　anyone　else？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Don't〃　He　tore　it　once　across；　and　stuffed　the　remnants　into　his　pocket。
　〃But　suppose…？〃
　〃It's　not　needed。　His　gambler…friends　are　already　down　on　the　books　for　it；　by　this　time。　They　told　me　they　found　evidence　to　indicate　that　a　big　card…game　had　taken　place　up　there　earlier　that　night。〃
　〃I　didn't　see　any。〃
　He　gave　her　an　eloquent　look。　〃They　did。　By　the　time　they　got　there。〃
　She　widened　her　eyes　a　little　at　him。
　〃They're　willing　to　let　it　go　at　that　So　let　us　let　it　go　at　that　too；　Patrice。〃　He　sighed　heavily。　〃I'm　all…in。　Feel　like　I've　been　on　my　feet　for　a　week　straight。　I'd　like　to　sleep　forever。〃
　〃Not　forever；　Bill；　not　forever。　Because　I'll　be　waiting　around；　and　that　would　be　so　long…〃
　His　lips　sought　the　side　of　her　face；　and　he　kissed　her　with　a　sort　of　blind　stupefaction。
　〃Walk　me　up　as　far　as　the　door　of　my　room；　Patrice。　Like　to　take　a　look　at　the　youngster；　before　I　turn　in。〃
　His　arm　slipped　wearily　around　her　waist。
　〃Our　youngster　from　now　on；〃　he　added　softly。
　
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　〃Mr。　William　Hazzard　was　married　yesterday　to　Mrs。　Patrice　Hazzard；　widow　of　the　late　Hugh　Hazzard；　at　a　quiet　ceremony　at　St。　Bartholomew's　Episcopal　Church；　in　this　city；　performed　by　the　Reverend　Francis　Allgood。　There　were　no　attendants。　Following　their　marriage　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Hazzard　left　immediately　for　a　honeymoon　trip　through　the　Canadian　Rockies。〃…All　Caulfield　morning　and　evening　newspapers。
　
　
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　When　the　reading　of　the　will　had　been　concluded…that　was　on　a　Monday　following　their　return；　about　a　month　later…Winthrop　asked　the　two　of　them　to　remain　behind　a　moment　after　the　room　had　been　cleared。　He　went　over　and　closed　the　door　after　the　others　present　had　left。　Then　he　went　to　the　wall；　opened　a　built…in　safe；　and　took　out　an　envelope。　He　sat　down　at　his　desk。
　〃Bill　and　Patrice；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　meant　for　you　alone。〃
　They　exchanged　a　look。
　〃It　is　not　part　of　the　estate；　so　it　concerns　no　one　else　but　the　two　of　you。
　〃It　is　from　her；　of　course。　It　was　transcribed　on　her　death…bed；　less　than　an　hour　before　she　died。〃
　〃But　we　already…〃　Bill　tried　to　say。
　Winthrop　silenced　him　with　upturned　hand。　〃There　were　two　of　them。　This　is　the　second。　Both　dictated　to　me　during　the　hours　of　that　same　night；　or　I　should　say；　early　morning。　This　follows　the　other。　The　first　she　gave　you　herself　that　same　night；　as　you　know。　The　other　she　turned　over　to　me。　I　was　to　hold　it　until　today；　as　I　have　done。　Her　instructions　to　me　were：　it　is　for　the　two　of　you　alike。　It　is　not　to　be　delivered　to　the　one　without　the　other。　When　delivered；　it　is　not　to　be　opened　by　the　one　without　the　other。　And　finally；　it　is　only　to　be　delivered　in　the　case　of　your　marriage。　If　you　were　not　married　at　this　time；　as　she　wanted　you　to　be…and　you　know　she　did；　very　much…then　it　was　to　be　destroyed　by　me；　unopened。　Singly；　it　is　not　for　either　one　of　you。　United　in　marriage；　it　is　a　last　gift　to　the　two　of　you；　from　her。
　〃However。　You　need　not　read　it　if　you　do　not　want　to。　You　can　destroy　it　unopened。　I　am　under　pledge　not　to　reveal　what　is　in　it；　even　though　I　naturally　know；　for　I　took　her　words　down　at　the　bedside；　and　witnessed　and　notarized　her　signature　in　my　capacity　as　her　attorney。　You　must；　therefore；　either　read　it　or　not　read　it　for　yourselves。　And　if　you　do　read　it；　then　when　you　have　read　it；　you　are　to　destroy　it　just　the　same。〃
　He　waited　a　moment。
　〃Now；　do　you　want　me　to　deliver　it　to　you；　or　do　you　prefer　that　I　destroy　it？〃
　〃We　want　it；　of　course；〃　Patrice　whispered。
　〃We　want　it；〃　Bill　echoed。
　He　extended　it　to　them　lengthwise。　〃You　kindly　place　your　fingers　on　this　corner。　You　on　this。〃　He　withdrew　his　own　fingers；　and　they　were　left　holding　it。
　〃I　hope　it　brings　you　the　extra　added　happiness　she　wanted　you　both　to　have。　I　know　that　that　is　why　she　did　it。　She　asked　me　to　bless　you　both；　for　her；　as　I　gave　it　to　you。　Which　I　do　now。　That　concludes　my　stewardship　in　the　matter。〃
　They　waited　several　hours；　until　they　were　alone　together　in　their　room　that　night。　Then　when　he'd　finished　putting　on　his　robe；　and　saw　that　she　had　doned　a　silken　bridal　something　over　her　nightdress；　he　took　it　out　of　his　coat…pocket　and　said：
　〃Now。　Shall　we？　You　do　want　to；　don't　you？〃
　〃Of　course。　It's　from　her。　We　want　to　read　it。　I've　been　counting　the　minutes　all　evening　long。〃
　〃I　knew　you'd　want　to。　e　on　over　here。　We'll　read　it　together。〃
　He　sat　down　in　an　easy　chair；　adjusted　the　hood　of　the　lamp　over　one　shoulder。　She　perched　beside　him　on　the　arm　of　the　chair；　slipped　an　arm　about　his　shoulders。
　The　sealing…wax　wafers　crumbled　and　the　flap　shot　upright；　under　his　fingers。
　In　silent　intensity；　heads　close　together；　they　read：
　
　〃My　beloved　children：
　You　are　married　by　now；　by　the　time　this　reaches　you。　（For　if　you　are　not；　it　will　not　reach　you；　Mr。　Winthrop　will　tell　you　all　about　that。）　You　are　happy。　I　hope　I　have　given　you　that　happiness。　I　want　to　give　you　even　a　little　more。　And　trust　and　pray　that　out　of　your　plenty；　you　will　spare　a　little　of　it　for　me；　even　though　I　am　gone　and　no　longer　there　with　you。　I　do　not　want　a　shadow　to　cross　your　minds　every　time　you　recall　me。　I　cannot　bear　to　have　you　think　ill　of　me。
　I　did　not　do　that　thing；　of　course。　I　did　not　take　that　young　man's　life。　Perhaps　you　have　already　guessed　it。　Perhaps　you　both　know　me　well　enough　to　know　I　could　not　have　done　such　a　thing。
　I　knew　that　he　was　doing　something　to　threaten　Patrice's　happiness；　that　was　all。　That　was　why　we　were　havng　Mr。　Carter　investigate　him。　But　I　never　actually　set　eyes　on　him；　I　never　saw　him。
　I　was　alone　in　the　house　last　night　（for　as　Mr。　Winthrop　writes