Chapter 15. A Retrospection

ebeastpresented,norcouldwepredictthefogwhichenabledhimtoburstuponusatsuchshortnotice.WesucceededinourobjectatacostwhichboththespecialistandDr.Mortimerassuremewillbeatemporaryone.Alongjourneymayenableourfriendtorecovernotonlyfromhisshatterednervesbutalsofromhiswoundedfeelings.Hislovefortheladywasdeepandsincere,andtohimthesaddestpartofallthisblackbusinesswasthatheshouldhavebeendeceivedbyher. “Itonlyremainstoindicatethepartwhichshehadplayedthroughout.TherecanbenodoubtthatStapletonexercisedaninfluenceoverherwhichmayhavebeenloveormayhavebeenfear,orverypossiblyboth,sincetheyarebynomeansincompatibleemotions.Itwas,atleast,absolutelyeffective.Athiscommandsheconsentedtopassashissister,thoughhefoundthelimitsofhispoweroverherwhenheendeavouredtomakeherthedirectaccessorytomurder.ShewasreadytowarnSirHenrysofarasshecouldwithoutimplicatingherhusband,andagainandagainshetriedtodoso.Stapletonhimselfseemstohavebeencapableofjealousy,andwhenhesawthebaronetpayingcourttothelady,eventhoughitwaspartofhisownplan,stillhecouldnothelpinterruptingwithapassionateoutburstwhichrevealedthefierysoulwhichhisself-containedmannersocleverlyconcealed.ByencouragingtheintimacyhemadeitcertainthatSirHenrywouldfrequentlycometoMerripitHouseandthathewouldsoonerorlatergettheopportunitywhichhedesired.Onthedayofthecrisis,however,hiswifeturnedsuddenlyagainsthim.Shehadlearnedsomethingofthedeathoftheconvict,andsheknewthatthehoundwasbeingkeptintheouthouseontheeveningthatSirHenrywascomingtodinner.Shetaxedherhusbandwithhisintendedcrime,andafuriousscenefollowedinwhichheshowedherforthefirsttimethatshehadarivalinhislove.Herfidelityturnedinaninstanttobitterhatred,andhesawthatshewouldbetrayhim.Hetiedherup,therefore,thatshemighthavenochanceofwarningSirHenry,andhehoped,nodoubt,thatwhenthewholecountrysideputdownthebaronet’sdeathtothecurseofhisfamily,astheycertainlywoulddo,hecouldwinhiswifebacktoacceptanaccomplishedfactandtokeepsilentuponwhatsheknew.InthisIfancythatinanycasehemadeamiscalculation,andthat,ifwehadnotbeenthere,hisdoomwouldnonethelesshavebeensealed.AwomanofSpanishblooddoesnotcondonesuchaninjurysolightly.Andnow,mydearWatson,withoutreferringtomynotes,Icannotgiveyouamoredetailedaccountofthiscuriouscase.Idonotknowthatanythingessentialhasbeenleftunexplained.” “HecouldnothopetofrightenSirHenrytodeathashehaddonetheoldunclewithhisbogiehound.” “Thebeastwassavageandhalf-starved.Ifitsappearancedidnotfrightenitsvictimtodeath,atleastitwouldparalyzetheresistancewhichmightbeoffered.” “Nodoubt.Thereonlyremainsonedifficulty.IfStapletoncameintothesuccession,howcouldheexplainthefactthathe,theheir,hadbeenlivingunannouncedunderanothernamesoclosetotheproperty?Howcouldheclaimitwithoutcausingsuspicionandinquiry?” “Itisaformidabledifficulty,andIfearthatyouasktoomuchwhenyouexpectmetosolveit.Thepastandthepresentarewithinthefieldofmyinquiry,butwhatamanmaydointhefutureisahardquestiontoanswer.Mrs.Stapletonhasheardherhusbanddiscusstheproblemonseveraloccasions.Therewerethreepossiblecourses.HemightclaimthepropertyfromSouthAmerica,establishhisidentitybeforetheBritishauthoritiesthereandsoobtainthefortunewithoutevercomingtoEnglandatall,orhemightadoptanelaboratedisguiseduringtheshorttimethatheneedbeinLondonor,again,hemightfurnishanaccomplicewiththeproofsandpapers,puttinghiminasheir,andretainingaclaimuponsomeproportionofhisincome.Wecannotdoubtfromwhatweknowofhimthathewouldhavefoundsomewayoutofthedifficulty.Andnow,mydearWatson,wehavehadsomeweeksofseverework,andforoneevening,Ithink,wemayturnourthoughtsintomorepleasantchannels.IhaveaboxforLesHuguenots.HaveyouheardtheDeReszkes?MightItroubleyouthentobereadyinhalfanhour,andwecanstopatMarcini’sforalittledinnerontheway?” THEEND