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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!”

魏晋南北朝史讲演录  孽卵  西湖梦寻  白客  乖乖女变身黑道公主  哈克贝利·费恩历险记  田汉代表作(中国现代文学百家系列)  行者  村头那棵樟树  女神收藏家  火影之伪暗  银之十字架与吸血姬  寄生女友佐奈  女大学生蜕变记  母亲怀了我的孩子  全景玛雅  胖女孩,有人爱  丁玲短篇集  动漫之梦游三国  蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)  

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