Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

Maxim was going to London for a society dinner at the end of June.It was a banquet involving official business in the county, and only male guests were present.He left home for two days, leaving me alone at the estate.I am very worried about what unexpected events he will encounter when he goes out this time. As I watched his car disappear around the bend in the driveway, it seemed to me that the farewell was forever and I would never see him again.I meant a car accident, of course, as if when I came back from my walk in the afternoon I would find Frith, pale with fright, waiting to give me the news that a doctor from some country hospital had called. "You must muster great courage," he would say. "I'm afraid you have to prepare yourself for a big blow."

Then it seemed like Frank came again, and we went to the hospital together, and Maxim didn't recognize me anymore.I just sat there at the lunch table, thinking about scene after scene.I imagined a large crowd of locals at the funeral, gathered around the churchyard, myself leaning on Frank's arm.It all seemed so real to me that I didn't even touch the food on the table.And kept pricking up his ears, for fear of missing the phone ringing by mistake. In the afternoon, I sat under the chestnut tree in the garden with a book on my lap, but I didn't read a word.As soon as I saw Robert coming across the lawn, I thought there must be a call, and I felt dizzy. "Ma'am, the club called and said Mr. de Winter was there ten minutes ago."

I close the book. "Thank you, Robert. He's here so soon." "Yes, ma'am. It went well." "He didn't ask me to answer the phone. Or left some special message?" "No, ma'am. Just to say he's arrived safely. It's the porter there." "Got it, Robert. Thank you very much." I was greatly relieved that I no longer felt dizzy.The doubts and fears in my heart were suddenly released, as if I had crossed the strait and reached the other shore safely.I felt hungry all of a sudden, so as soon as Robert came back into the house I crawled over the bench and slipped into the dining room and stole some biscuits from the pantry.It's six dollars in total, and it's Bath-Oliver's.Then I took an apple casually.I didn't expect to be so hungry.I didn't start chewing until I was in the woods, lest the servants at the window might see me eating on the lawn, and they'd go to the cook and tell me they'd seen Mrs. de Winter stuffing herself with biscuits and fruit. It must be that he doesn't like the food cooked in the kitchen.Of course the cook was not happy, and might complain to Mrs Danvers.

The thought of Maxim's safe arrival in London, and having swallowed those pies at last, gave me great relief, even strange pleasure.A sense of unfettered freedom arises spontaneously in my heart, with no worries and no worries, just like spending weekends when I was a child. I don’t have to go to class or preview, and I can do whatever I like; I can wear an old skirt and wear it. A pair of canvas shoes, and play the game of "Hounds Chasing Hare" with the children in the neighboring house on the nearby public lawn. That's exactly how I felt.I have never felt like this since coming to Manderley.It must have been the reason Maxim was away in London.

I was rather astonished that such a disrespectful thought should occur to me.I really don't understand what's going on here.I don't want him to leave my side.But now he was so light and happy, so light on his feet, that he couldn't help jumping across the grass, rolling and rolling downhill like a child.I wiped the cookie crumbs from my mouth and called out to Jasper.Oh, maybe I feel that way because it's a sunny day... We walked through the Valley of Happiness towards the little bay.The rhododendrons had faded, and their brown, wrinkled flowers were scattered on the mossy ground.The hyacinth flowers have not yet faded, laying a thick blanket in the woods at the end of the valley, and some curly green ferns emerge from time to time among the flowers.The moss exudes a deep and strong fragrance; the hyacinth flower exudes a bit of bitter earthy smell.I lay in the thick grass beside the hyacinths, my head resting on my palms, with Jasper at my side.It looked at me panting and goofy, saliva dripping down its tongue and thick jaw.Somewhere in the forest, there are a few pigeons resting on a branch.All around was quiet and peaceful.I wonder why the same surroundings can seem so lovely when you are alone.At this time, if a friend, an old classmate, sat next to me and said, "Hey, by the way, I met my old classmate Hilda the other day. Do you remember her? The one who beat me Good tennis classmate.

She is married and has two children. "It would kill the scenery, how boring. You can't care about the hyacinth flowers next to you, and you can't listen to the pigeons cooing above you. I don't want anyone around at the moment, not even Maxim." No exception. If Maxim was here, I wouldn't be lying like I am now, with my eyes closed and a piece of grass in my mouth. I must be watching his face and paying attention to his eyes and expression. I wondered to myself whether this would suit him or would it tire him to have to wonder what he was thinking. Now I can lie comfortably and not have to worry about it at all. Maxim In London. How beautiful it would be to be alone again! Oh, no, I'm joking. Is not this kind of evil a betrayal of love? That's not what I mean. Maxim is My life, my everything. I rose from among the hyacinths and yelled at Jasper. Together we came out of the woods and down the valley to the beach. It was low tide and the sea was quiet and far away. There The bay is like a vast lake as calm as a mirror. Looking at the sea at this moment, how can you imagine its raging and roaring scene, just as how can you imagine the bleak winter in the hot summer? There is no wind around, and the bright sun shines on the The water lapped gently on the shore; the water filled the reef and formed a pool of swirls. Jasper climbed up the reef in a hurry, and glanced over my shoulder, one ear dropped back on his head. Naughty and weird.

"Jesper, don't go that way," I said. Of course it didn't listen to me, so it let go and ran over there. "The rascal," I said aloud, and threw myself over the rocks in pursuit of Jasper, as if I hadn't intended to go to the other side of the beach. "Well, isn't it?" I muttered to myself. "It can't be helped. Whatever it is, Maxim is not around anyway. It can't be my fault!" I stepped on the puddles between the reefs, humming a little tune and walked forward. Times were different, less daunting, and the sea was only about three feet deep in the narrow bay.I think.Riding a light boat in this calm shallow water and rippling with the waves is indeed quite carefree.Fujian is still in the same place.It's painted green and white, which I didn't notice last time.Perhaps it was because of the continuous rain in those few days that the colors were not very clear.The beach was deserted.I stepped on pebbles to the other side of the bay and climbed up the stone wall of the breakwater.Jesper seemed to know the way.run ahead.There is a ring on the embankment, and an iron ladder stretches into the water from top to bottom.Maybe the raft was once tied here, and tourists also used this iron ladder to get on the raft.Thirty feet away was the floating tablet, with something still written on it.I turned sideways and craned my neck to read the words: "Je Reviens".Funny name.It's not like a normal ship name.But that boat might have been a French-built fishing boat at first, and fishing boats sometimes have that kind of name, something like "Returned safe," "I'm still here," and so on. "Je Reviens" - "I Return".

Yes, it was a very auspicious name for a ship, but it was a pity it was inappropriate for that ship, for it was gone forever. It must be cold enough to sail across the bay beyond the lighthouse on the headland.Here the water was as calm as a mirror, but there on the headland, even on a sunny day like this, the tide was still running, and the water was covered with white breakers.Once the boat rounded the cape and sailed out of the bay surrounded by land, it had to be at the mercy of the wind and waves, tossing and turning. The sea might rush on board the ship, overflowing the decks.The sailor at the helm may wipe the spray from her eyes and hair, and glance up at the taut sail.I don't know what color the boat was painted, maybe it was green and white, the same color as the buoy.It wasn't very big, with a small cabin, Frank had told me.

Jasper sniffed at the iron ladder. "Come on," I said, "I don't want to follow you around." I walked back to the beach along the harbor wall.The hut by the edge of the woods didn't look so far away and so scary as last time. This change is caused by the sun.Today, without a patter of rain on the roof, I walked slowly along the beach to the hut.After all, it was just an ordinary hut, and there was no one living in it, so there was nothing to be afraid of.No matter where, as long as there are no people for a period of time, it will always look damp and gloomy, even newly built bungalows and villas are no exception.

What's more, they also held entertainment activities such as moon night dinners here.Weekend visitors may often come here for a refreshing swim, followed by a cruise on the sea in a boat.I stand still.He looked around at the untended garden covered with hemp in front of the house.Gotta send someone to clean it up.Send a gardener, it shouldn't have been thrown aside, barren like this. I pushed open the small gate of the garden and walked to the door of the house.The door was ajar.I clearly remember that last time I closed the door tightly. Jasper barked and put his nose under the ledge and sniffed.

"Come on, Jesper," I said.It was still barking incessantly, poking its nose into the door frame.I pushed open the door and looked inside.The room was still as dark as last time.Everything remains the same.Cobwebs still hang from the rigging of the model ship.However, the door at the far end of the room to the boathouse storage room was open.Jasper barked again, and there was a thud in the storage room as something fell to the floor.Jasper snarled and sprinted under me into the house, then lunged at the open storage room door.I followed it a few steps inward, then stood hesitantly in the middle of the room, my heart pounding. "Jesper, come back, don't be a fool," I said.It stood at the door, still barking furiously, almost hysterically. There must be something in the storage room.Not like a rat.If it was a mouse, the dog must have pounced on it. "Jesper, Jesper, come here," I said.But it refused to come, so I picked up my steps and walked slowly towards the door of the storage room. "Is anyone in there?" I asked. no answer.I bent down, put my hand on Jasper's collar, and peered in from the door.A man was sitting in a corner, leaning against the wall.Looking at his huddled appearance, he seems to be more frightened than me.It was Bane.He tried to hide himself behind a sail. "What's the matter? What do you want?" I said to him.He blinked stupidly at me, his mouth slightly open. "I didn't do anything," he said. "Be quiet, Jasper," I scolded, putting my hand over his muzzle; I unleashed my own leash, slipped through the collar and held the dog. "Bane, what do you want?" I asked again, bolder this time. He said nothing, just stared at me with his idiotic eyes. "I think you'd better go out," I said. "Mr. de Winter doesn't like people walking around the house." He staggered to his feet, grinning mischievously and wiping his nose with the back of his hand.His other hand was always hidden behind his back. "Bane, what are you holding?" I said.Obediently, like a child, he showed me his other hand.He held a line in his hand. "I didn't do anything," he muttered again. "Is this line from here?" I said. "Huh?" he said. "Listen, Bane," I said, "you want this line, and you can take it. But don't take it again. It's not honest men's business to take what they own." He didn't say anything, just blinked at me and squirmed uneasily. "Come here," I said firmly.He followed me back to the great room.Jasper stopped barking and sniffed Bane's heels.I didn't want to stay in this room any longer, so I walked out of the room quickly and came into the sunlight. Bain shuffled and followed me.I closed the door behind me. "You'd better go home." I said to Bane. He held the line like a treasure to his chest. "You're not going to send me to a madhouse?" he asked. Only then did I see him trembling with fear.His hands were trembling, and he stared at me beggingly like a mute. "Of course not," I said mildly. "I didn't do anything," he said again. "I didn't tell anyone. I don't want to be sent to a madhouse." A tear rolled down his dirty cheek. "Okay, Bane," I said. "No one will turn you away. But don't go to that house again." I turned and walked away, but he came after me and grabbed my hand. "Come, come," he said. "I have something for you." He smirked.He gestured at me with his finger, then turned and walked towards the beach.I followed him and watched him stoop to remove a flat rock from the edge of the reef.There is a small pile of shells under the stone.He picked one and handed it to me. "This is for you," he said. "Thanks, that's beautiful," I said. He grinned again, and kept scratching his ears and cheeks, the fear just now was gone. "You have angel eyes," he said. I was startled, and looked down at the shell again, not knowing what to say for a moment. "You're not like the other one," he said. "Who are you talking about?" I asked. "What other one?" He shook his head, his gaze evasive again.He held out his finger and rested it on his nose. "She's tall and dark," he said. "She really looks like a snake. I saw her here. She comes at night. I saw her." Pause, looking at me intently.I am silent. "I looked into the room once and saw her," he went on. "She got mad at me. She said: 'You don't know me, do you?You have never seen me here, and you will never see me again.If I catch you peeking out the window again, I'll send you to the asylum. ’ And she said, “You don’t want to go, do you? They treat people badly in the madhouse.” I said, “I won’t say anything, madam. ' I even touched my hat like that. "He pulled the tarp sailor cap on his head." Now she's gone, isn't she? ' he asked anxiously. "I don't know who you're talking about," I said slowly. "No one will send you to a madhouse. Goodbye, Bane." I turned and led Jesper up the path along the beach.Poor guy, anyone can see that he is a little demented and incoherent.It seemed unlikely that anyone would scare a man like him with a lunatic asylum.Maxim had said he was an idiot and wouldn't make trouble.Frank said the same thing.Perhaps he had heard his family talk about his situation.These words have remained in his mind ever since, like an ugly picture that will always haunt a child's memory.On the issue of personal likes and dislikes, his intelligence is the same as that of a child. He will like someone for no reason.He was friendly to me only because I said he could keep the line.If I meet him tomorrow, maybe he will forget who I am.Wouldn't it be ridiculous to take an idiot's words seriously.I turned my head and glanced at the bay again.The tide had begun to rise there, and the water was slowly swirling around the harbor breakwater.Bane had gone over the rock.The beach was empty again.I just saw the stone chimney on the little roof through the gap in the dark bushes.For some reason, I suddenly wanted to run away.Holding the leash around Jesper's collar, I panted down the steep path through the woods, running forward without looking back.If it had been given me all the treasures in the world, I wouldn't want to go back to that cabin or the beach again.It seemed that someone was waiting in the small garden overgrown with nettles. That person had been watching me and listening to me. I ran wild with Jesper.He barked non-stop, thinking it was playing a new game, so he kept trying to bite the leash that held him, trying to bite it off.I hadn't noticed before how dense the trees were here, one close to the other, with bulging roots stretching across the road like tendrils, intent on tripping one.As I ran out of breath, I thought, Why don't they clean up this place, Maxim should send someone to do it.There is no need for such low and unkempt bushes, and it does not give people a sense of beauty at all. It was time to cut down all the tangled bushes and let the sun shine on the path.It's dark in here, it's too dark.The bare tree, choked with thorns, looked like the bleached limb of a skeleton, and under the tree ran a muddy and blackened stream, almost choked with mud from years of rain. It was now trickling silently down to the beach below.The birds do not sing as mellowly here as they do in the valley. There was an eerie silence all around.I was panting and running on the path, and I could hear the sound of the waves as the lake poured into the bay.Then I understood why Maxim didn't like the trail, didn't like the bay.I dont like it either.What a fool I was to come up here.I should have stayed on that beach over there, walking on those white pebbles, and gone home from happiness. When I came at last out of the woods to the lawn, I was delighted to see the solid, solid house standing in the open ground.The woods were left behind.I will ask Robert to bring the tea under the chestnut tree.I looked at my watch, and it was less than four o'clock, which was earlier than I thought.I have to wait a while.According to the rules of Mandali, there is no refreshment before 4:30.Fortunately, Frith went out for a rest today, and let Robert put the refreshments outside in the garden, so he would not pay attention to any ceremony.Just as I was strolling across the lawn to the platform, a bright light suddenly shot out from the heather greens at the bend in the driveway. It was the reflection of the sun on a metal object. I covered my eyes with my hand to see. What exactly is it.It's like the radiator on a car.I wondered if there was a visitor.But when they had guests, they always drove directly to the house instead of parked on the corner of the drive away from the house and hidden in the bushes as they were doing now.I take a few steps closer.Exactly, it's a car.Now I can see the fenders on the car, and the hood.What a strange thing.Normal customers never do that.Merchants always bypassed the old stables and garages and came in from the back.It wasn't Frank's Morris, the car I knew so well.And now this one, long and low, was a light car.I don't know what to do.If there had been a visitor, Robert would have shown the visitor into the library or drawing room.And if it was led into the living room, then I would be seen by them as I walked across the grass.I don't want guests to see me dressed like this.I have to keep the guests for refreshments.I was wandering around the edge of the lawn, undecided.For some unknown reason, perhaps because of the sudden flash of sunlight on the glass window, I occasionally looked up at the room.Oddly enough, the very instant I looked up, I noticed that one of the shutters in the west wing room was open.Someone was standing at the window, it was a man.He must have seen me too, for he hastily shrank back, and the man behind him immediately stretched out an arm and closed the window. It was Mrs Danvers' arm.I recognize the black sleeves.Perhaps, I thought to myself, today was a day for public inspections, and Mrs. Danvers was showing visitors the rooms.But this is impossible.Because it is always Frith's job to accompany guests to visit, and Frith is not at home at the moment.Besides, those rooms in the west wing are not open to outsiders. I haven't even seen it myself.No, today is not a visiting day, Tuesdays are never open to the public.Maybe something needs to be fixed in one of the rooms.But the look of that person looking out just now is really a bit strange.As soon as he saw me he drew back hastily, and the shutters were closed.And the car, parked behind the heather so no one in the house could see it.After all, this is Mrs. Danvers's business, and I have nothing to do with it.If there are friends who come to see her and take them to the West Wing, I really don't care.But as far as I know, this has never happened before.It was strange that this happened when Maxim was not at home. I walked across the lawn toward the house, feeling uncomfortable, thinking that maybe they were still behind the shutters, watching my every move through the chinks. I stepped up the steps and walked into the hall from the main entrance. I didn't see any unfamiliar hats or canes, and there was no business card in the tray. Obviously, this person was not an official visitor.Forget it, it's none of my business.I went into the greenhouse and washed my hands in the basin, so as not to have to go upstairs.Wouldn't it be embarrassing to bump into them head-on on the stairs or somewhere else? I remembered that I had left my knitting in the morning room before lunch, and went across the drawing room to fetch it, with the faithful Jasper not far behind.The door of the morning room was open.I found that the braided bag had been moved.I had put it on the couch before, but now someone picked it up and stuffed it behind the cushion.The place where the knitting work was originally placed on the sofa has traces of being sat on.Someone sat on it just now, and my knitting work was in the way, so I just took it away.The chair by the desk had also been moved.It appears Mrs Danvers received her visitor in the morning room while Maxim and I were away.I feel very uncomfortable.I'd rather not know there was such a thing.Jasper bobbed around the couch, wagging his tail.In any case, it was not suspicious of the strange visitor.I picked up the braided bag and walked out the door.At this time, the side door of the large living room leading to the back room opened, and I heard someone talking.I immediately retreated to the exhibition room, and dodged in time without being seen.I hid behind the door and glared at Jesper, because the spaniel was standing in the doorway watching me, wagging his tail and dragging his tongue, the little rascal would do something bad.I held my breath and stood still, not daring to move. Just then I heard Mrs Danvers's voice. "I think she's gone to the library," she said. "She came back early for some reason today. If she really went to the library, she would not see you going out from the hall. Wait here, and I'll go and see first." I knew they were talking about me, and I felt more and more like a thorn in my back.The whole thing is so sneaky and shady.I don't want to catch Mrs Danvers.But Jasper turned suddenly toward the living room, and ran out wagging his tail. "Hey, you little bastard," I heard the man say.Jasper barked excitedly.I was so anxious that I had nowhere to go, desperately trying to find a place to hide, but of course there was nowhere to hide.But at this moment, there was a sound of footsteps, and the man walked into the morning room.I hid behind the door, and he didn't see me at first, but Jasper jumped up and came running at me, still barking happily. The man turned around sharply and finally saw me.I've never seen anyone look so surprised, as if I were a burglar breaking in.And he is the owner of the house. "I beg your pardon," he said, looking me up and down. This man was tall and burly, his face was dark and red, and he was pretty with a bit of vulgarity.He had blood-red blue eyes, the kind of eyes that are often associated with alcoholism and lust.His hair was the same as his complexion, black and red.In a few years, the person will be fat, and a thick pile of fat will form on the collar of the neck.That mouth exposed the true color of this drunkard, and the pink lips looked limp.From where I stood I could smell the whiskey coming out of his mouth.He had a smile on his face, the kind that would throw any woman on. "I hope I didn't frighten you," he said. I came out from behind the door.I thought to myself, it's no wonder that I don't look like a big fool. "Nowhere, of course not," I said. "I heard someone talking just now, and I was not sure who it was. I didn't expect to have a visitor this afternoon." "It's outrageous," he said tactfully, "that I've taken the liberty of asking you to startle you, and I hope you'll forgive me. Actually, I dropped in to see old Danny, one of my old friends." friend." "Oh, sure, it's all right," I said. "Dear old Danny," he said. "God bless her. She's worried about disturbing anyone. She doesn't want to disturb you." "Oh, it doesn't matter at all," I said, looking at Jasper, who hopped happily around the man, scratching him with melon seeds from time to time. "The little beggar hasn't forgotten me, has he?" said he. "Looks like it. I was a pup last time I saw it. But it's got a lot of fat on it. Let's move it around." "I did a real run with it just now," I said. "Really? You really like sports," he said.He kept patting Jasper, smiled at me freely, and pulled out his cigarette case. "One?" he asked. "I don't smoke," I told him. "Really not?" He took one and lit it himself. I've never given a shit about that sort of thing, though.I always feel a little awkward being so casual in other people's homes.It was certainly bad manners, or at least bad courtesy to me. "How's buddy Max?" he said. I was secretly surprised by the tone of his speech, which sounded as if he and Maxim were familiar.I was surprised to hear someone call Maxim Max.No one has ever called him that. "He's fine, thank you," I said. "He's gone to London." "What? Leaving the bride here alone? Oh, it's too bad. Isn't he afraid that someone will come and snatch you away?" He opened his mouth and laughed.I really hate that kind of laughter.It's kind of rude.He's a person I hate too.Just then Mrs. Danvers came in.As soon as her eyes fell on me, I felt a chill come over me.Oh my God, I thought, she must be dying to swallow me up. "Hey, Danny, here you come," the man said. "You're on your guard, but it's in vain. The mistress of the house is behind the door." He laughed again.Mrs. Danvers said nothing, but just stared at me blankly. "Nuan, why don't you introduce me?" He said. "Greetings to the bride. Isn't it an outrageous gesture?" "This is Mr. Favere, ma'am," said Mrs. Danvers calmly and rather reluctantly.I don't think she wanted to introduce him to me. "How do you do," I said, and then, so as not to be rude, "stay here for tea, please." My invitation seemed to amuse him.He turned to Mrs. Danvers. "Look, wouldn't it be tempting to have such a warm invitation?" he said. "Please let me stay for tea, my God. Danny, I really want to stay." I saw her throw him a warning look.I feel awkward.The whole scene was so unnatural, it should never have happened. "Well, maybe you're right," he said. "But it must be a lot of fun to stay. I think it's better to go, don't you? Come on, come with me to see my car." He spoke in the same friendly and curt tone.I don't want to see his car.I was caught between a rock and a hard place, extremely embarrassed. "Come on," he said. "That's a neat little car, and it's a lot quicker than any car poor old Max has had in his life!" I can't make up an excuse, the whole thing is so unnatural, bordering on absurd, I don't know what the hell it is.Why does Mrs Danvers stand there looking at me like that, with fire in her eyes? "Where is the car?" I asked weakly. "At the bend in the driveway. I didn't drive all the way to the gate, lest I startle you. I thought you might take a rest this afternoon." I didn't answer.This lie is too stupid.Together we walked through the living room and onto the porch.He turned his head and gave Mrs. Danvers a wink.She didn't wink at him.I don't expect her to be that far.Her face was stern and intimidating.Jasper bounded out of the house and up the drive, as if overjoyed by the unexpected presence of his intruder.It seems that the guests have a good relationship with it. "I guess I forgot my hat in the car," said the man, taking a mocking glance into the hall. "Actually, I took a detour and sneaked into the house. I went straight to Danny's lair. Would you like to come and see the car?" He cast a questioning glance at Mrs. Danvers.She hesitated and glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. "No," she replied. "No, I want to go out now. Goodbye, Mr. Jack." He grabbed her hand and held it affectionately. "Goodbye, Danny, and take care. You always know where to get in touch with me. It makes me so happy to see you again today." He stepped out of the house and onto the drive, with Jasper bouncing up and down behind him. , I followed behind with heavy steps, still feeling very uncomfortable in my heart. "Dear old Manderley," he said, looking up at the row of windows. "It's pretty much the same place as it was. I guess it's thanks to Danny's taking good care of it. What a wonderful woman, don't you think?" "Yes, she's very competent," I replied. "How do you feel about life here? Does it feel like you've been buried in another world?" "I like Manderley very much," I said stiffly. "When Max met you, you were staying somewhere in the South of France? In Mont, weren't you? I've always known that place in Mont." "Yes, it was Monte Carlo," I said. We have reached the car.It was a green light car, the same as its owner. "What do you think of the car?" he said. "Pretty," I replied politely. "How about taking it for a drive to the gate of the manor?" "No, I don't want to go," I said. "I'm a little tired." "You don't think the Mistress of Manderley's car ride with people like me is out of place, do you?" he said, laughing, and shaking his head at me. "Oh no," I said, blushing hot. "really not." He kept looking me up and down with those impudent, obnoxious blue eyes, with a sort of impish air.I felt almost like a barmaid. "Oh, all right," he said. "We can't lead the bride astray, Jasper, don't you? We can't help it." He reached for his hat and a pair of ridiculously large driving gloves, and threw the cigarette butt into the car. Fling in the driveway. "Good-bye," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm lucky to meet you." "Goodbye," I said. "Oh, by the way," he said casually. "If you don't mention my coming to Max, you'll be quite a friend! I'm afraid he thinks something of me, and I can't tell why; and besides, it might get poor old Danny into trouble." "No", I said awkwardly. "Okay, I won't say." "You're such a friend. Why, you really made up your mind not to go for a ride?" "No, if you don't mind, I reckon you'll be spared." "Goodbye, then. Maybe I'll see you someday. Go down, Jesper, you bastard, you're going to scratch the paint off the car. I mean, Max just left you alone." It is shameful for a person to leave here and go to London by himself." "I don't care. I like being home alone," I said. "Aha, really? What a queer thing. You know, it's totally unreasonable, it's against human nature. How long have you been married? Three months, isn't it?" "Almost," I said. “我啊，还真希望有个结婚三个月的新娘在家里等着我呢！我是个孤苦伶仃的光棍。”他又放声大笑，随后把帽子往下一拉，盖到眼睛上边。“告辞啦，”说着，他把车发动起来，排气管劈劈啪啪喷出团团废气，汽车顺着车道飞驶而去，杰斯珀站在那儿望着汽车远去，双耳耷拉下来，尾巴夹在两腿中间。 “哦，来吧，杰斯珀，”我说。“别这么半痴不呆的。”我转身朝屋子慢慢走去，丹弗斯太太已不见踪影。我站在厅廊里，拉了拉铃。大约五分钟光景一直没人答应。我又拉铃。一会儿，艾丽斯走了进来，一脸的不高兴，不知受了多少委屈似的。“什么事，太太？”她说。 “哦，艾丽斯，”我说，“罗伯特不在吗？今天我想在屋子外面的栗子树下用茶点。” “罗伯特下午到邮局去还没回来呢，太太，”艾丽斯说。“丹弗斯太太告诉他说您不会准时回来用茶的。弗里思当然也不在。如果您现在就想用茶点，我可以去给您拿来。 我看现在还没到四点半哪。 " “哦，没关系，艾丽斯，等罗伯特回来再说吧，”我说。原来，迈克西姆不在家，家里的事儿全都没了板眼。弗里思和罗伯特同时跑开，这种情况据我知道还未曾有过。 当然，今天该弗里思休息，而丹弗斯太太又偏偏打发罗伯特上邮局去。他们料定我到很远的地方散步去了，于是那个叫费弗尔的家伙就看准这个时机来探望丹弗斯太太。时间选得再巧妙不过了。我敢说，其中肯定有鬼，而且他还要我瞒过迈克西姆。这事儿可真棘手。我不想给丹弗斯太太招麻烦，也不想平地惹起一场风波。更主要的是，我不想让迈克西姆为此烦恼。 这个费弗尔究竟是何许人物。他把迈克西姆叫作“迈克斯”。还没有人叫过他“迈克斯”。有一回，我在一本书的扉页上，倒是见过这个名字来着，是手写的纤细的斜体字，上端奇特地高耸着，而那个字母M的尾巴轮廓分明，拖得很长。我想，就只有此人叫过他迈克斯…… 我就这么站在门厅里，拿不定主意什么时候用茶，也不知道该做什么才好。突然，我脑子里闪出这样一个念头：也许丹弗斯太太为人不老实，一直背着迈克西姆干什么勾当，今天她和那个家伙正合伙算计着什么，不巧被我早回来一步撞上了，于是那家伙就花言巧语，装出一副同这所屋子和迈克西姆本人很熟悉的样子，拔脚溜走了。不知道他们在西厢那边于什么来着。为什么他们一瞧见我来到草地上，慌忙把百叶窗关上呢？我满腹狐疑，隐隐感到不安。弗里思和罗伯特都不在家。下午，女佣们一般总是在自己的寝室里更衣换装。于是这地方就成了丹弗斯太太一个人的天下。难道那个男人是个小偷，而丹弗斯太太又是他雇用的内线？西厢那边颇有一些值钱的东西。我顿时产生一阵说来也颇有点吓人的冲动，想此刻就悄悄摸上楼去，亲自到西厢那几个房间去看个明白。 罗伯特还没有回来。上茶之前正好有时间去走一趟。我犹豫地朝画廊瞥了一眼。整个屋子肃穆无声。仆人都在厨房后面的下房里。杰斯珀在楼梯脚下舔吃盘里的狗食，那稀里哗啦的声音在石筑大厅里回响着。我挪动脚步，向楼上走去，一阵异样的兴奋遍布全身，心房怦怦剧跳不已。