小说园

第59部分（第1页）

“Who　are　you？”　he　asked　of　the　intruder。

“My　name　is　Briggs；　a　solicitor　of—Street；　London。”

“And　you　would　thrust　on　me　a　wife？”

“I　would　remind　you　of　your　lady’s　existence；　sir；　which　the　law　recognises；　if　you　do　not。”

“Favour　me　with　an　account　of　her—with　her　name；　her　parentage；　her　place　of　abode。”

“Certainly。”　Mr。　Briggs　calmly　took　a　paper　from　his　pocket；　and　read　out　in　a　sort　of　official；　nasal　voice：—

“‘I　affirm　and　can　prove　that　on　the　20th　of　October　A。D。—（a　date　of　fifteen　years　back）；　Edward　Fairfax　Rochester；　of　Thornfield　Hall；　in　the　county　of　—；　and　of　Ferndean　Manor；　in—shire；　England；　was　married　to　my　sister；　Bertha　Antoita　Mason；　daughter　of　Jonas　Mason；　merchant；　and　of　Antoita　his　wife；　a　Creole；　at—church；　Spanish　Town；　Jamaica。　The　record　of　the　marriage　will　be　found　in　the　register　of　that　church—a　copy　of　it　is　now　in　my　possession。　Signed；　Richard　Mason。’”

“That—if　a　genuine　document—may　prove　I　have　been　married；　but　it　does　not　prove　that　the　woman　mentioned　therein　as　my　wife　is　still　living。”

“She　was　living　three　months　ago；”　returned　the　lawyer。

“How　do　you　know？”

“I　have　a　witness　to　the　fact；　whose　testimony　even　you；　sir；　will　scarcely　controvert。”

“Produce　him—or　go　to　hell。”

“I　will　produce　him　first—he　is　on　the　spot。　Mr。　Mason；　have　the　goodness　to　step　forward。”

Mr。　Rochester；　on　hearing　the　name；　set　his　teeth；　he　experienced；　too；　a　sort　of　strong　convulsive　quiver；　near　to　him　as　I　was；　I　felt　the　spasmodic　movement　of　fury　or　despair　run　through　his　frame。　The　second　stranger；　who　had　hitherto　lingered　in　the　background；　now　drew　near；　a　pale　face　looked　over　the　solicitor’s　shoulder—yes；　it　was　Mason　himself。　Mr。　Rochester　turned　and　glared　at　him。　His　eye；　as　I　have　often　said；　was　a　black　eye：　it　had　now　a　tawny；　nay；　a　bloody　light　in　its　gloom；　and　his　face　flushed—olive　cheek　and　hueless　forehead　received　a　glow　as　from　spreading；　ascending　heart…fire：　and　he　stirred；　lifted　his　strong　arm—he　could　have　struck　Mason；　dashed　him　on　the　church…floor；　shocked　by　ruthless　blow　the　breath　from　his　body—but　Mason　shrank　away；　and　cried　faintly；　“Good　God！”　Contempt　fell　cool　on　Mr。　Rochester—his　passion　died　as　if　a　blight　had　shrivelled　it　up：　he　only　asked—“What　have　you　to　say？”

An　inaudible　reply　escaped　Mason’s　white　lips。

“The　devil　is　in　it　if　you　cannot　answer　distinctly。　I　again　demand；　what　have　you　to　say？”

“Sir—sir；”　interrupted　the　clergyman；　“do　not　forget　you　are　in　a　sacred　place。”　Then　addressing　Mason；　he　inquired　gently；　“Are　you　aware；　sir；　whether　or　not　this　gentleman’s　wife　is　still　living？”

“Courage；”　urged　the　lawyer；—“speak　out。”

“She　is　now　living　at　Thornfield　Hall；”　said　Mason；　in　more　articulate　tones：　“I　saw　her　there　last　April。　I　am　her　brother。”

“At　Thornfield　Hall！”　ejaculated　the　clergyman。　“Impossible！　I　am　an　old　resident　in　this　neighbourhood；　sir；　and　I　never　heard　of　a　Mrs。　Rochester　at　Thornfield　Hall。”

I　saw　a　grim　smile　contort　Mr。　Rochester’s　lips；　and　he　muttered—

“No；　by　God！　I　took　care　that　none　should　hear　of　it—or　of　her　under　that　name。”　He　mused—for　ten　minutes　he　held　counsel　with　himself：　he　formed　his　resolve；　and　announced　it—

“Enough！　all　shall　bolt　out　at　once；　like　the　bullet　from　the　barrel。　Wood；　close　your　book　and　take　off　your　surplice；　John　Green　（to　the　clerk）；　leave　the　church：　there　will　be　no　wedding　to…day。”　The　man　obeyed。

Mr。　Rochester　continued；　hardily　and　recklessly：　“Bigamy　is　an　ugly　word！—I　meant；　however；　to　be　a　bigamist；　but　fate　has　out…　manoeuvred　me；　or　Providence　has　checked　me；—perhaps　the　last。　I　am　little　better　than　a　devil　at　this　moment；　and；　as　my　pastor　there　would　tell　me；　deserve　no　doubt　the　sternest　judgments　of　God；　even　to　the　quenchless　fire　and　deathless　worm。　Gentlemen；　my　plan　is　broken　up：…　what　this　lawyer　and　his　client　say　is　true：　I　have　been　married；　and　the　woman　to　whom　I　was　married　lives！　You　say　you　never　heard　of　a　Mrs。　Rochester　at　the　house　up　yonder；　Wood；　but　I　daresay　you　have　many　a　time　inclined　your　ear　to　gossip　about　the　mysterious　lunatic　kept　there　under　watch　and　ward。　Some　have　whispered　to　you　that　she　is　my　bastard　half…sister：　some；　my　cast…　off　mistress。　I　now　inform　you　that　she　is　my　wife；　whom　I　married　fifteen　years　ago；—Bertha　Mason　by　name；　sister　of　this　resolute　personage；　bs　and　white　cheeks；　showing　you　what　a　stout　heart　men　may　bear。　Cheer　up；　Dick！—never　fear　me！—I’d　almost　as　soon　strike　a　woman　as　you。　Bertha　Mason　is　mad；　and　she　came　of　a　mad　family；　idiots　and　maniacs　through　three　generations？　Her　mother；　the　Creole；　was　both　a　madwoman　and　a　drunkard！—as　I　found　out　after　I　had　wed　the　daughter：　for　they　were　silent　on　family　secrets　before。　Bertha；　like　a　dutiful　child；　copied　her　parent　in　both　points。　I　had　a　charming　partner—pure；　wise；　modest：　you　can　fancy　I　was　a　happy　man。　I　went　through　rich　scenes！　Oh！　my　experience　has　been　heavenly；　if　you　only　knew　it！　But　I　owe　you　no　further　explanation。　Briggs；　Wood；　Mason；　I　invite　you　all　to　e　up　to　the　house　and　visit　Mrs。　Poole’s　patient；　and　my　wife！　You　shall　see　what　sort　of　a　being　I　was　cheated　into　espousing；　and　judge　whether　or　not　I　had　a　right　to　break　the　pact；　and　seek　sympathy　with　something　at　least　human。　This　girl；”　he　continued；　looking　at　me；　“knew　no　more　than　you；　Wood；　of　the　disgusting　secret：　she　thought　all　was　fair　and　legal　and　never　dreamt　she　was　going　to　be　entrapped　into　a　feigned　union　with　a　defrauded　wretch；　already　bound　to　a　bad；　mad；　and　embruted　partner！　e　all　of　you—follow！”