登陆注册
15454000000025

第25章 A FORLORN HOPE(2)

I say that no man has a right to keep a woman's letters back from her years after any friendship there may have been between them is over. It is not the action of an honorable man. Sir Wingrave Seton has placed himself outside the pale of honorable men.""Your judgment," Aynesworth answered quietly, "seems to me severe. Sir Wingrave Seton has been the victim of peculiar circumstances."Barrington looked at his companion thoughtfully. He was wondering exactly how much he knew.

"You defend him," he remarked. "That is because you have not yet found out what manner of man he is.""In any case," Aynesworth answered, "I am not his judge. Mr. Barrington," he added, "You must forgive me if I remind you that this is a somewhat unprofitable discussion."A short silence followed. With Barrington it did not appear to be a silence of irresolution. He was leaning a little forward in his chair, and his head was resting upon his hand. Of his companion he seemed for the moment to have become oblivious. Aynesworth watched him curiously. Was he looking back through the years, he wondered, to that one brief but lurid chapter of history; or was it his own future of which he was thinking,--a future which, to the world, must seem so full of brilliant possibilities, and yet which he himself must feel to be so fatally and miserably insecure?

"Mr. Aynesworth," he said at last, "I suppose from a crude point of view I am here to bribe you."Aynesworth shrugged his shoulders.

"Is it worth while?" he asked a little wearily. "I have tried to be civil--but I have also tried to make you understand. Your task is absolutely hopeless!""It should not be," Barrington persisted. "This is one of those rare cases, in which anything is justifiable. Seton had his chance at the trial. He chose to keep silence. I do not praise him or blame him for that. It was the only course open to a man of honor. I maintain that his silence then binds him to silence for ever. He has no right to ruin my life and the happiness of my wife by subtle threats, to hold those foolish letters over our heads, like a thunderbolt held ever in suspense. You are ambitious, I believe, Mr. Aynesworth!" Get me those letters, and I will make you my secretary, find you a seat in Parliament, and anything else in reason that you will!"Aynesworth rose to his feet. He wished to intimate that, so far as he was concerned, the interview was at an end.

"Your proposition, Mr. Barrington," he said, "is absolutely impossible. In the first place, I have no idea where the letters in question are, and Sr.

Wingrave is never likely to suffer them to pass into my charge.""You have opportunities of finding out," Barrington suggested.

"And secondly," Aynesworth continued, ignoring the interruption, "whatever the right or the wrong of this matter may be, I am in receipt of a salary from Sr.

Wingrave Seton, and I cannot betray his confidence."Barrington also rose to his feet. He was beginning to recognize the hopelessness of his task.

"This is final, Mr. Aynesworth?" he asked.

"Absolutely!" was the firm reply.

Barrington bowed stiffly, and moved towards the door. On the threshold he paused.

"I trust, Mr. Aynesworth," he said hesitatingly, "that you will not regard this as an ordinary attempt at bribery and corruption. I have simply asked you to aid me in setting right a great injustice.""It is a subtle distinction, Mr. Barrington," Aynesworth answered, "but I will endeavor to keep in mind your point of view."Barrington drove straight home, and made his way directly to his study. Now that he was free from his wife's influence, and looked back upon his recent interview, he realized for the first time the folly and indignity of the whole proceedings. He was angry that, a man of common sense, keen witted and farseeing in the ordinary affairs of life, should have placed himself so completely in a false, not to say a humiliating position. And then, just as suddenly, he forgot all about himself, and remembered only her. With a breath of violets, and the delicate rustling of half-lifted skirts, she had come softly into the room, and stood looking at him inquiringly. Her manner seemed to indicate more a good-natured curiosity than real anxiety. She made a little grimace as he shook his head.

"I have failed," he said shortly. "That young man is a prig!""I was afraid," she said, "that he would be obstinate. Men with eyes of that color always are!""What are we to do, Ruth?"

"What can we?" she answered calmly. "Nothing but wait. He is going to America.

It is a terrible country for accidents. Something may happen to him there! Do go and change your things, there's a dear, and look in at the Westinghams' for me for an hour. We'll just get some supper and come away.""I will be ready in ten minutes," Barrington answered. He understood that he was to ask no questions, nor did he. But all the time his man was hurrying him into his clothes, his brain was busy weaving fancies.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 爱,欲罢不能

    爱,欲罢不能

    当果芸回到龙蟠镇,继承愿景神院“巫女”这一光辉头衔的时候,她除了还感觉到自己爱着某个少年外,6年前的一切——全然遗忘。?当她放眼望去的刹那,这里的人与事她一概不知,但内心深处的感觉却在反复地给她灌输一股迫切的情感。?果芸在这里与6年前的友人重逢了,虽然自己不再记得他们,但与大家相聚一堂的片刻,仿佛让她获得了最终所期盼的欣慰与幸福。?男孩们的逐一出现,带给愿景神院一个个小小的奇迹。也使身负家族大业的果芸体味到了前所未有的快乐。?可就在大家都沉浸在相互爱慕与关怀的和谐气氛时,感伤的泪水席卷而来……?果芸又能否坚强面对自己的过去与未来呢?
  • 白衣修罗:玥

    白衣修罗:玥

    十世轮回,被最爱的人杀死。一朝穿越,她不在相信任何人,直到遇到他。。。(米娜桑表吐槽,偶只素个小学生。。。)加我QQ:2513868191
  • 灵签系统

    灵签系统

    啥?你还在修炼啊?切,我很忙,要泡妞要赚钱,忙着踩人,哪有时间呀……!!别以为我好欺负,洪爷我有灵签系统,瞬间就能学会各种技法,虐死你。啥?你很有钱?别在我面前炫富,洪爷到异界随便弄点东西过来,换成钱能砸死你……PS:人气新书,重磅出击,欢迎大家品鉴支持。
  • 妖魔世界大战

    妖魔世界大战

    魔星入侵,大难降临先有僵尸,后来怨灵九尾妖狐,三头巨蟒上古魔帝,远古妖王当地球遭受魔星入侵,谁能执剑傲视天下,在末世闯出属于自己的一片天空?谱写一些末世的黑暗葬魂曲?PS:末世只有丧尸的时代已经过时了,东方的僵尸大军才是王道!!!
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 待轮回

    待轮回

    荒山野岭的桃儿娘和一心报恩的小鬼魂孤守千年只想送出一颗桃子;观音禅寺的千年银杏下,武媚娘要去救那未有人闻的护龙人;大闹天宫的齐天大圣却是凡间种桃子的糟老头;默默无闻的孟婆竟是那十殿阎罗的大姐头......你可敢越过墙缝间那一抹黑影,去看那没看过仙女妖精,去探索被遮掩的神话秘史?
  • 政论

    政论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 加拿大的邂逅

    加拿大的邂逅

    本书取材于著者2010年3月至6月苏州工业园区星海实验中学春季沉浸式修学活动,从初中生的角度来感受外国世界。
  • 丑妃无敌:本王就要你

    丑妃无敌:本王就要你

    一场意外穿越,她的归来,注定了她不平凡人生!她从一个绝世丑女变成他的独爱!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】