第23章

SirPatrick’smeditationswereinterruptedbytheappearanceofaservant，previouslyinstructedtokeephiminformedoftheprogressofeventsatthehouse。

“They’reallgone，SirPatrick，“saidtheman。

“That’sacomfort，Simpson。Wehavenovisitorstodealwithnow，exceptthevisitorswhoarestayinginthehouse？“

“None，SirPatrick。“

“They’reallgentlemen，aretheynot？“

“Yes，SirPatrick。“

“That’sanothercomfort，Simpson。Verygood。I’llseeLadyLundiefirst。“

Doesanyotherformofhumanresolutionapproachthefirmnessofawomanwhoisbentondiscoveringthefrailtiesofanotherwomanwhomshehates？Youmaymoverocks，underagivensetofcircumstances。Buthereisadelicatebeinginpetticoats，whoshrieksifaspiderdropsonherneck，andshuddersifyouapproachherafterhavingeatenanonion。Canyoumove_her，_

underagivensetofcircumstances，assetforthabove？Notyou!

SirPatrickfoundherladyshipinstitutingherinquiriesonthesameadmirablyexhaustivesystemwhichispursued，incasesofdisappearance，bythepolice。Whowasthelastwitnesswhohadseenthemissingperson？WhowasthelastservantwhohadseenAnneSilvester？Beginwiththemen-servants，fromthebutleratthetoptothestableboyatthebottom。Goonwiththewomen-servants，fromthecookinallherglorytothesmallfemalechildwhoweedsthegarden。LadyLundiehadcross-examinedherwaydownwardasfarasthepage，whenSirPatrickjoinedher。

“Mydearlady!pardonmeforremindingyouagain，thatthisisafreecountry，andthatyouhavenoclaimwhatevertoinvestigateMissSilvester’sproceedingsaftershehasleftyourhouse。“

LadyLundieraisedhereyes，devotionally，totheceiling。Shelookedlikeamartyrtoduty。Ifyouhadseenherladyshipatthatmoment，youwouldhavesaidyourself，“Amartyrtoduty。“

“No，SirPatrick!AsaChristianwoman，thatisnot_my_wayoflookingatit。Thisunhappypersonhaslivedundermyroof。ThisunhappypersonhasbeenthecompanionofBlanche。Iamresponsible——Iam，inamanner，morallyresponsible。Iwouldgivetheworldtobeabletodismissitasyoudo。Butno!Imustbesatisfiedthatshe_is_married。Intheinterestsofpropriety。

Forthequietingofmyownconscience。BeforeIlaymyheadonmypillowto-night，SirPatrick——beforeIlaymyheadonmypillowto-night!“

“Oneword，LadyLundie——“

“No!“repeatedherladyship，withthemostpatheticgentleness。

“Youareright，Idaresay，fromtheworldlypointofview。I

can’ttaketheworldlypointofview。Theworldlypointofviewhurtsme。“Sheturned，withimpressivegravity，tothepage。“Youknowwhereyouwillgo，Jonathan，ifyoutelllies!“

Jonathanwaslazy，Jonathanwaspimply，Jonathanwasfat——_but_

Jonathanwasorthodox。Heansweredthathedidknow；and，whatismore，hementionedtheplace。

SirPatricksawthatfurtheroppositiononhispart，atthatmoment，wouldbeworsethanuseless。Hewiselydeterminedtowait，beforeheinterferedagain，untilLadyLundiehadthoroughlyexhaustedherselfandherinquiries。Atthesametime——asitwasimpossib