第103章

“Shestoodforsometimelookingatme，inthatdullstrangewaythatshehas。TheservantsatWindygatesalwayssaidshewasnotinherrightmind——andyouwillsay，SirPatrick，whenyouhearwhathappened，thattheservantswerenotmistaken。Shemustbemad。Isaid，’Don’tyourememberme？’Sheliftedherslate，andwrote，’Irememberyou，inadeadswoonatWindygatesHouse。’I

wasquiteunawarethatshehadbeenpresentwhenIfaintedinthelibrary。Thediscoverystartledme——orthatdreadful，dead-coldlookthatshehasinhereyesstartledme——Idon’tknowwhich。I

couldn’tspeaktoherjustatfirst。Shewroteonherslateagain——thestrangestquestion——inthesewords：’Isaid，atthetime，broughttoitbyaman。DidIsaytrue？’Ifthequestionhadbeenputintheusualway，byanybodyelse，Ishouldhaveconsideredittooinsolenttobenoticed。Canyouunderstandmyansweringit，SirPatrick？Ican’tunderstanditmyself，now——andyetIdidanswer。Sheforcedmetoitwithherstonyeyes。Isaid’yes。’“

“Didallthistakeplaceatthedoor？“

“Atthedoor。“

“Whendidsheletyouin？“

“Thenextthingshedidwastoletmein。Shetookmebythearm，inaroughway，anddrewmeinsidethedoor，andshutit。Mynervesarebroken；mycourageisgone。Icreptwithcoldwhenshetouchedme。Shedroppedmyarm。Istoodlikeachild，waitingforwhatitpleasedhertosayordonext。Sherestedhertwohandsonhersides，andtookalonglookatme。Shemadeahorriddumbsound——notasifshewasangry；more，ifsuchathingcouldbe，asifshewassatisfied——pleasedeven，Ishouldhavesaid，ifithadbeenanybodybutHesterDethridge。Doyouunderstandit？“

“Notyet。Letmegetnearertounderstandingitbyaskingsomethingbeforeyougoon。Didsheshowanyattachmenttoyou，whenyouwerebothatWindygates？“

“Nottheleast。Sheappearedtobeincapableofattachmenttome，ortoanybody。“

“Didshewriteanymorequestionsonherslate？“

“Yes。Shewroteanotherquestionunderwhatshehadwrittenjustbefore。Hermindwasstillrunningonmyfaintingfit，andonthe’man’whohad’broughtmetoit。’Shehelduptheslate；andthewordswerethese：’Tellmehowheservedyou，didheknockyoudown？’Mostpeoplewouldhavelaughedatthequestion。_I_wasstartledbyit。Itoldher，No。Sheshookherheadasifshedidn’tbelieveme。Shewroteonherslate，’Wearelothtoownitwhentheyupwiththeirfistsandbeatus——ain’twe？’Isaid，’Youarequitewrong。’Shewentonobstinatelywithherwriting。

’Whoistheman？’——washernextquestion。Ihadcontrolenoughovermyselftodeclinetellingherthat。Sheopenedthedoor，andpointedtometogoout。Imadeasignentreatinghertowaitalittle。Shewentback，inherimpenetrableway，tothewritingontheslate——stillaboutthe’man。’Thistime，thequestionwasplainerstill。Shehadevidentlyplacedherowninterpretationofmyappearanceatthehouse。Shewrote，’Isitthemanwholodgeshere？’IsawthatshewouldclosethedooronmeifIdidn’tanswer。Myonlychancewithherwastoownthatshehadguessedright。Isaid’Yes。Iwanttoseehim。’Shetookmebythearm，asroughlyasbefore——andledmeintothehouse。“

“Ibegintounderstandher，“saidSirPatrick。“Irememberhearing，inmybrother’stime，thatshehadbeenbrutallyill-usedbyherhusband。Theassociationofideas，evenin_her_

confusedbrain，becomesplain，ifyoubearthatinmind。Whatisherlastremembranceofyou？ItistheremembranceofafaintingwomanatWindygates。“

“Yes。“

“Shemakesyouacknowledgethatshehasguessedright，inguessingthatamanwas，