elinor wyllys-2- 第55部分

〃What　were　the　documents　in　your　chest？〃

〃Most　of　what　they　had　to　show　came　from　me：　to　be　sure；　Hopgood　had　got　some　letters　and　papers；　written　to　himself　of　late　years　under　the　name　of　William　Stanley；　but　all　they　had　before　the　wreck　of　the　Jefferson　came　from　me。〃

〃Were　there　any　books　among　the　articles　in　your　possession？〃

〃No；　sir；　nothing　but　the　pocket…book。〃

〃Are　you　quite　sure？　Was　there　not　one　book　with　William　Stanley's　name　in　it？〃

〃Not　one；　that　'ere　book　they　had　in　court　didn't　come　from　me；　how　they　got　it　I　don't　know；〃　replied　Stebbins　positively；　who；　it　seemed；　knew　nothing　of　the　volume　of　the　Spectator。

〃Where　did　you　next　meet　Hopgood？〃

〃Well；　I　was　mad　when　I　found　he　had　got　them　papers；　but　the　lawyer　had　left　a　message　with　my　mother；　saying　if　I　came　home；　she　was　to　tell　me　I'd　hear　something　to　my　advantage　by　applying　to　him。　So　I　went　after　him　to　the　place　where　he　lives；　and　sure　enough　there　was　Hopgood；　and　he　and　Clapp　as　thick　as　can　be　together。　I　guess　they'd　have　liked　it　better　if　I　had　never　showed　myself　again：　but　they　got　round　me；　and　told　me　how　it　was　all　settled；　and　if　I　would　only　lend　a　hand；　and　keep　quiet　about　Hopgood；　and　speak　for　them　once　in　a　while；　they　would　enter　into　an　agreement　to　give　me　enough　to　make　a　skipper　of　me　at　once。　Them　'ere　lawyers　they　can　make　black　look　like　whiteand　so　I　agreed　to　it　at　last。〃

Hazlehurst　strongly　suspected　that　less　persuasion　had　been　necessary　than　the　man　wished　him　to　believe。

〃Did　they　tell　you　all　their　plan？〃

〃Pretty　much　all；　they　said　it　was　easy　to　make　people　believe　Hopgood　was　William　Stanley；　for　he　looked　so　much　like　the　young　man；　that　he　had　been　asked　if　that　wasn't　his　name。　He　said　it　was　that　first　gave　him　the　notion　of　passing　off　for　William　Stanleythat；　and　knowing　all　about　the　family；　and　the　young　man　himself。　He　said　Stanley　had　no　near　relations　who　would　be　likely　to　remember　him；　there　was　only　one　old　gentleman　they　was　afraid　of；　but　they　calculated　they　knew　enough　to　puzzle　him　too。　Hopgood　had　been　practising　after　Stanley's　handwriting；　he　was　pretty　good　at　that　trade　when　he　was　a　shaver；〃　said　Stebbins；　with　a　look　which　showed　he　knew　the　story　of　the　forgery。　〃He　was　bred　a　lawyer；　and　them　'ere　lawyers　are　good　at　all　sorts　of　tricks。　Clapp　and　him　had　made　out　a　story　from　my　papers　and　what　they　know'd　before；　and　got　it　all　ready　in　a　letter；　they　agreed　that　from　the　time　of　the　wreck；　they　had　better　keep　pretty　straight　to　Hopgood's　real　life；　and　so　they　did。〃

〃They　seem　to　have　laid　all　their　plans　before　you。〃

〃Well；　they　couldn't　help　it；　for　they　wanted　me　to　tell　them　all　I　heard　from　my　brother；　but　I　told　'em　to　speak　first。　They　made　out　that　Hopgood　had　a　right　to　the　property；　for　they　said　that　old　Mr。　Stanley　had　no　family　to　leave　it　to；　that　you　was　a　stranger；　and　that　Hopgood　was　a　relation。〃

〃This　Hopgood；　who　first　helped　to　corrupt　William　Stanley；　even　if　he　had　actually　been　a　near　relation；　would　have　been　the　last　human　being　to　whom　Mr。　Stanley　would　have　left　his　property；〃　said　Harry；　coolly。　〃But　go　on　with　your　story；　why　did　they　not　show　the　pocket…book　before　the　trial？〃

〃They　settled　it　so；　because　they　thought　it　would　look　better　before　the　jury。〃

〃Why　did　you　change　your　own　mind　so　soon　after　the　trial？　You　should　have　come　to　me　before。〃

〃Hopgood　and　I　had　a　quarrel　only　three　days　ago；　when　he　was　drunk；　he　swore　they　could　have　done　without　me；　and　I　swore　I'd　be　revenged。　Then　that　fellow；　Clapp；　wouldn't　pay　me　on　the　spot　according　to　agreement；　as　soon　as　they　had　gained　the　cause。　I　had　kept　my　part；　and　he　hadn't　lifted　a　finger　yet　for　me；　nor　he　wouldn't　if　he　could　help　it；　for　all　he　had　given　me　his　word。　I　know　him　from　more　than　one　thing　that　came　out；　he　is　one　of　your　fellows　who　sham　gentlemen；　with　a　fine　coat　to　his　back；　but　I　wouldn't　trust　him　with　a　sixpence　out　of　sight；　no；　nor　out　of　arm's　length；〃　and　Stebbins　went　on；　swearing　roundly　at　Clapp　and　Hopgood；　until　Harry　interrupted　him。

〃I　know　them　'ere　lawyers；　they　think　they　can　cheat　Jack　any　day；　but　I　won't　trust　him　an　hour　longer！　I　know　your　real　gentleman　from　your　tricky　sham　at　a　minute's　warning；　though　their　coats　be　both　cut　off　the　same　piece　of　broadcloth。　I　haven't　served　under　Uncle　Sam's　officers　for　nothing。　Now　I'll　trust　you；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　as　long　as　it　suits　you；　I'd　no　more　have　talked　to　Clapp　without　having　his　name　down　in　black　and　white；　as　I　have　to　you；　than　I'd　be　shot。〃

〃The　agreement　I　have　made　shall　be　strictly　kept；〃　replied　Harry；　coldly。　〃Had　you　come　to　me　before　the　trial；　you　would　have　had　the　same　reward；　without　the　crime　of　perjury。〃

〃Well；　that　'ere　perjury　made　me　feel　uncomfortable；　and　what　with　having　sworn　vengeance　on　Clapp　and　Hopgood；　I　made　up　my　mind　to　go　straight　back　to　Philadelphy；　and　turn　state's　evidence。　I　was　waiting　for　a　chance　to　get　to　New　York　when　I　saw　you　on　the　wharf　at　Nantucket；　and　I　knew　you　in　a　minute。〃

The　conversation　was　here　interrupted　by　a　call　from　the　beach；　which　attracted　Harry's　attention；　after　having　been　so　much　engrossed　during　the　disclosures　of　Stebbins；　as　to　be　quite　regardless　of　what　was　going　on　about　him。　It　was　de　Vaux　who　had　calledhe　now　approached。

〃I　couldn't　think　where　that　fellow；　Stebbins；　had　got　to；　if　you　have　nothing　for　him　to　do　here；　Hazlehurst；　he　is　wanted　yonder。〃

Harry　and　the　sailor　accordingly　parted。　After　exchanging　a　few　words　to　conclude　their　agreement；　they　both　returned　to　the　beach。

The　Petrel　seemed　to　be　getting　under　way　again；　Smith　and　de　Vaux；　who　had　just　returned　from　the　wood　with　their　guns；　and　Charlie；　who　had　just　left　his　sketching　apparels；　were　standing　together　looking　on　when　Harry　joined　them。

〃I　didn't　know　what　had　become　of　you；〃　said　Charlie。　〃What　a　long　yarn　that　fellow　seemed　to　be　telling　you！〃

〃It　was　well　worth　hearing；〃　said　Harry；　with　a　significant　look　at　his　friend。

〃Really？　I　had　some　hope　it　might　prove　so　from　the　man's　look；〃　added　Charlie；　comprehending　at　once　the　drift　of　the　conversation；　though　he　had　little　idea　of　its　complete　success　in　unravelling　the　plot　

〃You　shall　hear　it　before　long；〃　added　Harry。

〃When　you　please；　in　the　mean　time　I　wish　you　joy　of　any　good　news！〃

〃But　what　are　you　about　here；　de　Vaux？　I　thought　we　were　to　remain　on　the　island　till　sun…set。〃

〃So　we　shall；　but　it　seems　that　fellow；　Black　Bob；　has　forgot　the　vegetables　I　ordered　him　to　bring　from　Nantucket；　we　have　discovered　a　house　with　something　like　a　garden　on　the　opposite　point；　and　I　am　going　to　send　Bob　with　the　boy　Sam　on　a　foraging　expedition；　I　dare　say　they　will　find　potatoes　and　onions　at　least。　That　is　the　spot；　do　you　see　the　apple…trees？　With　the　glass　I　saw　a　woman　moving　about；　and　milk…pans　drying　in　the　sun。〃

〃Why　don't　you　send　the　boat？〃

〃Stryker　hasn't　come　back　yet；　and　there　is　wind　enough　to　carry　the　Petrel　over　and　back　again　in　half　an　hour。〃

〃Smith　and　I　are　going　as　commanding　officers；　and　you　will　have　a　much　better　dinner　for　our　exertions；　no　doubt；〃　said　Charlie。

〃Holloa；　there；　BobSam！tumble　on　board；　mind　you　bring　all　the　garden…stuff　they　can　spare。　You　Bob；　see　if　you　can　pick　up　half　you　contrived　to　forget；　sir；　at　Nantucket。　You　deserve　to　be　made　to　swim　across　for　it；〃　said　de　Vaux。

〃Never　could　swim　a　stroke　in　my　born　days；　sir；〃　muttered　Black　Bob。

〃There　isn't　much　choice　of　sa'ace　at　Nantucket；　anyway；〃　added　the　boy　Sam。

｛〃sa'ace〃　=　sauce；　a　slang　term　for　vegetables｝

〃Here　we　go；〃　said　Charlie；　jumping　lightly　on　board；　followed　by　Smith。

〃It　is　possible　you　may　find　some　melons；　Hubbard；　don't　forget　to　ask　for　them；〃　said　de　Vaux。

〃Ay；　ay；　sir；〃　replied　Charlie；　nodding　as　the　Petrel　moved　off。　The　boy　was　steering；　while　Black　Bob　and　the　gentlemen　tended　the　sails；　and　the　little　schooner　glided　gracefully　on　her　way；　with　a　light　breeze；　sufficiently　favourable。

Harry　went　to　take　a　look　at　Charlie's　sketch；　which　he　found　just　as　the　young　artist　had　left　itspirited　and　true　to　nature　as　usual；　but　only　half…finished。　De　Vaux　looked　into　the　chowder　pot；　where　all　seemed　to　be　going　on　well。　He　then　joined　Harry；　and　the　young　men　continued　walking　together　near　the　shanty；　where　preparations　for　dinner　were　going　on　under　the　charge　of　Stebbins　and　the　acting　steward　of　the　cruise。

〃It　is　nearly　time　Stryker　made　his　appearance　with　the　fish；〃　said　Harry。

〃If　the　sport　is　good；　we　shan't　see　him　this　hour　yet；〃　replied　de　Vaux。　〃He　will　only　come　back　in　time　to　put　the　finishing　stroke　to　the　chowder。〃

〃If　he　waits　too　long　he　will　have　a　shower；〃　observed　Harry；　pointing　eastward；　where　dark　clouds　were　beginning　to　appear　above　the　wood。

〃Not　under　an　hour　I　think；〃　said　de　Vaux。　〃He　will　take　care　of　himself　at　any　ratetrust　to　Stryker　for　that；〃　They　turned　to　look　at　the　Petrel。　Some　ten　or　fifteen　minutes　had　passed　since　she　left　the　little　wharf；　and　she　was　already　near　her　destination；　the　point　on　which　the　farm…house　stood　being　scarcely　more　than　a　mile　distant；　in　a　direct　line；　and　a　single　tack　having　proved　sufficient　to　carry　her　there。

〃The　wind　seems　to　be　falling；〃　said　Harry；　holding　up　his　hand　to　feel　the　air。　〃It　is　to　be　hoped　they　will　make　a　quick　bargain；　or　they　may　keep　your　potatoes　too　late　to　be　boiled　for　to…day's　dinner。〃

De　Vaux　took　up　the　glass　to　look　after　their　movements。

〃They　have　made　the　point；　handsomely；〃　he　said；　〃and　there　is　a　woman　coming　down　to　the　shore；　and　a　boy；　too。〃

The　friends　agreed　that　there　seemed　every　prospect　of　a　successful　negotiation；　for　a　woman　was　seen　going　towards　the　garden　with　a　basket；　and　Sam；　the　boy；　had　landed。　Before　long　a　basket　was　carried　down　from　the　house；　while　Sam　and　the　woman　were　still　busy　in　the　garden。

〃They　had　better　be　off　as　soon　as　they　can；〃　said　de　Vaux；　〃for　the　wind　is　certainly　falling。〃

〃There　is　a　shower　coming　up　over　the　island；　Captain　de　Vaux；〃　said　Stebbins；　touching　his　hat。

〃Coming；　sure　enough！look　yonder！〃exclaimed　Harry；　pointing　eastward；　where　heavy　clouds　were　now　seen　rising　rapid