Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

I sat down again in the small room, which looked like the reception room of the police station.The policeman bent down and gave me a glass of water to drink; someone's hand was on my arm.It was Frank's hand.I sat motionless as the floor, the surrounding walls, and the figures of Frank and the police gradually became clear outlines before my eyes. "I'm so sorry," I said. "What a shame. It's stuffy, stuffy stuff." "There was not much ventilation in that room," said the policeman. "People often complain about it, but they never renovate the room. There have been ladies who fainted there before."

"Are you feeling better, Mrs. de Winter?" said Frank. "Yes, it's much better, and it will be back to normal in a while. You don't have to stay here with me." "I'll give you a Manderley." "No." "You must go. Maxim wants me to see you." "No. You should stay with him." "Maxim wants me to take you back to Manderley." He took my arm and helped me stand up. "Can you walk to the parking lot? Or should I bring the car over?" "I can go. But I'd rather stay here. I'll wait for Maxim."

"Maxim may have to stay a long time." Why did he say that?What's the meaning?Why can't he look at me?He took my arm and helped me across the street, toward the door, down the steps, and into the street.Maxim may have to stay for a while... Neither of us said a word, but we walked over to Frank's little Morris.He opened the car door and helped me into the car. Then got into the car and started the engine.We left the cobbled market square and walked through the empty town to the main road to Chris. "Why are they taking it so long? What's next?" "They may have to listen to the whole testimony again." Frank stared straight ahead at the white road ahead.

"Haven't all the testimony been heard?" I said. "No one has anything new to say." "Who knows?" Frank said. "The coroner may ask the question in a different way. Taber changed the whole situation. The coroner will certainly ask the question from another angle now." "What angle? What exactly do you mean?" "You heard the testimony just now, didn't you? What did Taber say about the boat? They'll never believe it was an accident again." "It's ridiculous, Frank, it's ridiculous. They shouldn't be listening to Teb's nonsense. How does he know how the hole in the boat came about after so many months? What are they trying to prove?"

"I have no idea." "The coroner will stare at Maxim, make him angry, make him talk nonsense. The coroner's going to keep asking questions, Frank, Maxim won't take it. I know he won't take it." .” Frank didn't answer.He drove the car very fast.For the first time in my acquaintance with this man, he has not found a ready-made polite remark.It showed that he was worried, very worried.Normally, he drives the car very slowly and is very careful. He has to stop the car at every intersection and look left and right; and before every turn, he must press the horn as a signal.

"That man was there," I said. "The guy who came to Manderley once to see Mrs. Danvers." "You mean Favere?" said Frank. "Yes, I saw the man there." "He's sitting there with Mrs Danvers." "Yes, I know that." "Why is this man here? What right does he have to be arraigned?" "He's her cousin." "It's not right that he and Mrs. Danvers are both present at the hearing. I don't think they're reliable, Frank." "yes." "These two people may want to do something, they may want to make trouble."

Frank still didn't answer.I knew he was loyal to Maxim and would never let himself be dragged into a meeting about him, not even with me.He didn't know how much I knew the details of the matter, and I couldn't tell how much he knew.He and I were allies, walking on the same road, but we couldn't look at each other, and neither of us dared to risk telling the truth.At this time, the car was entering the gate of the manor, and then driving up the long, winding and narrow drive to the house.I noticed for the first time that the hydrangeas were in bloom, blue bulbs poking out of the green foliage behind them.

Although the flowers are beautiful, they are always a little gloomy, sad and solemn; hydrangeas are like wreaths placed under glass coffins in foreign church cemeteries, which appear rigid and have traces of artificial carving.There were hydrangeas all along the driveway, like giant, blue-faced, fang-toothed ghosts parading down the street to watch us pass. At last we rounded the sharp turn, reached the steps, and returned to the house. "You won't have anything now?" Frank said. "Can't you lie down for a while?" "say to me. "You're right, maybe you have to lie down for a while."

"I'll hurry back to Languo," he said. "Maxim may need me." He didn't say anything more, hurried back to the car, and drove away.Maxim might need him.Why did he say Maxim might need him?Perhaps the coroner would also question Frank about that night twelve months ago. Didn't Maxim dine at Frank's that night?The coroner will certainly have to ask Maxim exactly when he left his home.He would also ask whether anyone had seen Maxim when he came home, whether the servants knew he was home, and who could prove that Maxim went straight to bed, undressed and went to bed.Mrs. Danvers may be asked to give evidence.And Maxim began to lose his temper, his face turned pale...

I went into the hall, went upstairs to my room, and did what Frank had just advised me to do, and lay down on the bed.I covered my face with my hands, and I kept seeing the arraignment hall and the faces of those people.The coroner's wrinkled, sad face was unbearable to watch, and his gold-rimmed pince-nez. "I'm not in charge of this case because I'm in a panic and have nothing to do to make fun of it." Although this person's mind is not quick, he is meticulous and thorough, and he gets angry at every turn.What are those people talking about right now?What happened again?What if Frank came to Manderley after a while and came back alone?

I don't know what measures people will take on such occasions.I remember seeing pictures in the newspapers of people being escorted out of what looked like an arraignment hall.What if Maxim was also taken away by them?They wouldn't let me go near him, wouldn't let me see him.Then I have to be like this moment, day after day, night after night, waiting, waiting.Colonel Julian and other friends would come to express their condolences, saying "you can't live alone in the deep house, come to us".Phone, newspaper, phone again. "No, Mrs. De Winter can't be seen. Mrs. De Winter has nothing to say to the County Register." A day passed.Another day passed.Week after week passed, leaving vague impressions on the memory, if not no impression at all.In the end it was Frank who took me to see Maxim.He's thinner and looks weird, like a patient in a hospital... Other women have had it, and I read about it in the papers.It is useless for them to write to the Minister of the Interior.The Home Secretary is always talking about law enforcement.Friends also handed in appeals, and everyone signed, but the Home Secretary was helpless.But the ordinary people who read about the case in the newspaper said sarcastic remarks: Why did you let this guy go?After all, he was a wife murderer, right?Let him go, what about the poor murdered wife?The abolition of the death penalty is the foolishness of those who only pay attention to benevolence and magnanimity, and will only condone criminals.The guy should have considered the consequences before he killed his wife.It's too late now.Like other murderers, he has to pay for it and use it as an example to future generations. I remember seeing a picture of it on the back of a newspaper once.The photo shows a small group of people gathered outside the prison gate. Just after nine o'clock, a policeman came and posted a notice on the door to inform everyone.The notice announced that the execution had been carried out: "The execution has been carried out at nine o'clock this morning. The warden, the prison doctor, and the county magistrate were present at the execution." The hanging is only a short time, and it is not painful. neck.No, not like that.It is said that sometimes people cannot be hanged to death.It was said by someone who had been acquainted with a certain warden.They put a sack over your head, you stand on the little scaffold, and then you're thrown off the ground... From the time you get out of the dungeon to being hanged, it takes about three minutes. No, fifty seconds is enough, someone said.No, this statement is absurd, fifty seconds is impossible.From the side of the shed to the pit below it was a short flight of steps.Prison doctors always go down to the pit for inspection.Those prisoners all died in a blink of an eye.No, not instantly, but the body writhes for a while, because the neck is not always snapped off all at once.However, even so, the tortured person will not feel anything.However, some people also said that the tortured people still have feelings.The man had a brother who was a prison doctor.According to the man, not all the prisoners died immediately, but because they were afraid that the incident would cause an uproar in the public opinion, so they did not let the outside world know about it.The prisoner's eyes were wide open, and he stared back for a long time. God, don't make me go on thinking about these horrible things.Think of something else, think of something else, like Mrs. Van Hopper in America.She must have been with her daughter, the family had a house on Long Island.I think they played bridge all day and all night, and went to the races.Doesn't Mrs. Van Hopper love horse racing?I don't know if the lady still wears the little yellow hat; it's too small, and it doesn't fit well on her big face.I imagined Van Hopper sitting and resting in the garden of his Long Island flat, with novels, magazines, and newspapers on his lap; The daughter was calling, "Come and see, Helen. The newspapers said that Max De Winter had killed his ex-wife. I always thought he was a bit of a queer man, so I warned the stupid girl not to make a mistake. But She won't listen to my advice. Isn't it? Now the girl's hopes are all lost. I reckon they'll pay a lot of money if she'll let them be photographed in the paper." Someone touched my hand.It was Jesper.The spaniel was stuffing his cold, wet nose into the palm of my hand.It has followed me from the moment I walked in the door.Why does a person have a sore nose and want to cry when he sees a dog?The dog's comfort to people is silent, with a certain sentimental taste.Jesper realized what was wrong.Other dogs always have this bit of spirituality.If the owner packs the luggage and drives the car to the gate, the dogs will droop their tails and watch listlessly, and when the car gradually goes away, they will obediently run back to the hall and crawl back to their dens... I must have fallen asleep for a while, and didn't wake up until the first Jiao Lei sounded in the air.I sat up quickly and saw that it was five o'clock.I got up from the bed and went to the window.There was no wind at all, and the leaves hung their heads, as if waiting for something.The leaden sky was torn by jagged lightning.There was another billowing thunder in the distance, but there was still no rain. I walked out of the room and went to the corridor to listen.There was no sound in the room.I went to the stairs, but no one was walking downstairs.Because the sky was overcast with thunder, the hall was dark.I went down the stairs and came to the platform.There was another burst of thunder.A drop of rain fell on my hand.Only one drop, and no more raindrops will fall. It was very dark.Looking out from the platform, the sea on the other side of the mountain looks like a pool of black lake water.Another drop of rain fell on my hand, followed by another snap.A handmaid began closing the windows upstairs.Robert appeared, and he closed the parlor window behind me. "Aren't the gentlemen back yet, Robert?" I asked. "No, ma'am, not yet. I thought you were with them, ma'am." "No, no. I've been back a while." "Do you have tea, ma'am?" "No, no, I want to wait." "Looks like the weather is changing at last, ma'am." "yes." But it didn't rain, except for the two little rain stars dripping on the hands, there was no rain anymore.I went back into the house and sat down in the library.At five-thirty Robert entered the room. "Ma'am, the car has just pulled up to the gate," he announced. "Which car?" I asked. "Mr. de Winter's car, ma'am," he said. "Did Mr. de Winter drive the car himself?" "Yes, ma'am." I struggled to stand up, my legs were as soft as straw, unable to bear the weight of my whole body.I had no choice but to stand leaning on the sofa, only to feel that my throat was dry and sad.A minute later, Maxim came into the room and stood at the door. He looked tired and old, with lines around his mouth that I hadn't noticed before. "It's finally over," he said. I waited for him to continue, but I was still speechless, and I couldn't move towards him. "Suicide," he said. "There is not enough evidence to explain the mood of the deceased. Naturally, everyone was confused, and no one could understand what was going on." I sit down on the sofa. "Suicide," I said. "What motive? What motive?" "God knows," he said. "They don't seem to feel the need to find a motive. Old Man Horwich is still staring at me and asking if Rebecca has any trouble with money. Hard times, for God's sake!" He walked to the window and stood still, looking at the green lawn outside. "It's going to rain," he said. "Thank God, it's finally going to rain." "How did it go?" I asked. "What did the coroner say? Why did you stay there so long?" "The coroner repeated the same old story over and over again," Maxim said. "Ask some details about that ship, but no one thinks those details are important. Such as whether the bottom valve can be opened by a family? What is the precise location of the first and second holes? How is the ballast? What's going on? How does moving this thing affect the balance of the boat? Is a woman strong enough to move the ballast on her own? Is the hatch closed? How much water pressure does it take to blow the hatch open? I went crazy, but I still forcibly held back. When I saw you appearing at the door, I remembered what I should do. If you hadn’t fainted on the spot, I couldn’t pass this level smoothly. I only cheered up when I saw you fainted I got up and knew how to answer. I kept facing Horwich, my eyes were fixed on his thin, withered face and critical expression on his face, and his gold-rimmed pince-nez. Deputy, I will never forget it in my life. I am exhausted, my dear, so exhausted that I have lost my sight and hearing, and I have lost all my senses." He sat down on the window seat, hunched over, and covered his head with his hands.I went over and sat down beside him.Presently Frith came in, followed by Robert, carrying the refreshment table.What followed was the same solemn ceremony day after day: the folding top of the table was opened, the legs were set up, the white tablecloth was spread, the silver tea simmered over a simmering fire was served, and crispy pancakes were served. , sandwiches and three cakes with different textures.Jesper sat near the table, waving his tail now and then on the floor, looking at me expectantly.I can't help thinking that the routines of life are really interesting. No matter what happens, we always stick to the old rules, eat, drink, sleep, and wash in the same way; no crisis of any kind can change the old habits.I poured out Maxim's tea, took it to the window seat, and brought him pancakes, and got myself another one, and buttered it. "Where's Frank?" I asked. "He's gone to see the vicar. I'd have to go too, but I just wanted to come straight to you. I've been thinking of you, waiting at home alone, not knowing what's going on there." "Why the vicar?" I asked. "There has to be a ceremony tonight," he said. "In church." I stared blankly at him, and then realized that Rebecca was going to be buried, and they were going to take Rebecca's body back from the funeral home for burial. "The ceremony was at half past six," he said. "Only Frank, Colonel Julian, the Vicar and the people of our country know. No one will be left to watch. The matter was settled yesterday, and of course it will not be affected by the verdict of the jury." "When do you have to leave?" "I'll meet them at church at six twenty-five." I don't say anything, just drink tea.Maxim put down his untouched sandwich and said, "It's still hot enough, isn't it?" "It's the storm," I said. "Except for a few scattered drops, the rain is hard to fall. The thunderstorm is smoldering in the sky, but it just refuses to break out." "When I left Lanin, it was thundering," he said. "The sky above is gray. Why doesn't God want it to rain?" The crows and sparrows in the woods are no longer noisy, and the sky is still dark and gloomy. "In my mind, it would be nice if you didn't leave home tonight," I said. He didn't answer, and the tired look on his face showed that he was really exhausted. "We'll talk about it in detail tonight when I get back," he said after a while. "We have a lot of things to do together, don't we? We'll have to start all over again. I'm afraid I'll be the number one bad husband to you." "No!" I said. "No!" "After this incident, we are going to start a new life. As long as you and I are together, we can do it. It's not the same as fighting alone. As long as we are together, the past can't hurt us a hair. You'll still have kids." After a while, he looked at his watch and said, "It's ten past six, and I have to leave right away. Fortunately, it's not long, half an hour at most. We can't leave until we have sent the funeral to the cemetery." I shook his hand and said, "I'll go with you. I don't mind. Let me go with you." "No," he said. "No, I won't let you go." Then he went out of the house.I heard the sound of a car starting in the driveway, and then the sound faded away, and he was gone. Robert followed the old rules of the past and came into the house to collect the tea things, as if it was no different from the usual day.I wondered to myself: If Maxim hadn't come back from Languo, would he still be doing things according to the routine?Would Robert still put an impassive expression on his young goat's face, wipe the crumbs of pastry off the white tablecloth, fold up the table, and carry it out of the room? After the servant left, the library was extremely quiet.I began to imagine their service in the church, how these people came through the side door and down a set of stone steps to the cemetery.I've never been to the cemetery, only the side door.I don't know what the cemetery looks like, are there rows of coffins?Maxim's parents are buried in the cemetery.I don't know what they will do with the coffin of the unknown woman whose Li Daitao is stiff.Who could this unnamed woman be?Poor people, the beach was exposed to the wind and waves, and no one claimed it.Now, a coffin will be added to the cemetery, and Rebecca will also lie there to rest.The chaplain was probably saying the funeral prayers for the dead man now, with Maxim and Frank and Colonel Julian probably standing beside him.Human beings are ashes, and become ashes after death.I feel that Rebecca is no longer a real person of flesh and blood anymore; when her body was found in the cabin, Rebecca turned to dust.So it is not Rebecca who is in the coffin in the cemetery, but the whole ashes.A pinch of dust, that's all. Just after seven o'clock, it started to rain.At the beginning, the rain was slow, and only the pattering of leaves could be heard, but the strands of rain were still invisible.Then the rain picked up.The dense raindrops fell, and finally turned into a torrential rain pouring obliquely from the leaden gray sky to the earth, with the momentum like water gushing from a sluice.I left the window wide open and stood by it to breathe in the cool air. The rain was shallow on my face and hands.The raindrops were dense and fierce, which cut off my sight, and the scenery outside the lawn was all covered in a haze.I heard the rain beating against the eaves pipes and the terrace stones above the windows.The thunder had died down, and the rain smelt of moss and mud and black bark. I stood at the window and watched the rain so engrossed that I didn't hear Frith come in.I didn't notice him until he was standing beside me. "Excuse me, ma'am," he said. "I want to ask if it will be a long time before Mr. de Winter comes back." "No," I said. "Not long." "A gentleman wants to see him, ma'am," said Frith, after a moment's hesitation. "I don't know how to answer the gentleman. He insisted on seeing Mr. de Winter." "Which one?" I asked. "Do you know this man?" Frith looked uncomfortable all over. "Yes, ma'am," he said. "This gentleman was a regular visitor here once, when Mrs. de Winter was still alive. His name was Favere." I knelt on the window seat and closed the window as the rain began to trickle in and hit the cushions.Then I turned around, looked at Frith and said, "Why don't I come and see Mr. Favell." "Yes, ma'am." I went to the dead fire and stood on a rug.Maybe I can get rid of the Favere guy before Maxim comes back.I didn't know what to say to him, but I wasn't afraid either. After a while, Frith led Feiffer to come.This person is still the same as before, if there is any change, it can only be said that he has become ruder and more poorly dressed.People like him never wear hats when they go out, so after the sun these days, their hair has faded and their skin is dark.His eyes were bloodshot, and I suspected he had been drinking a lot. "I've got to tell you, Maxim's not at home," I said. "I don't know how long it will be before he comes back. Wouldn't it be better if you made an appointment with him to meet him at the office tomorrow morning?" "I'd rather wait for him," Favre said. "Besides, to tell you the truth, I knew he wouldn't have long to wait. I took a peek into the dining room when I came here. I saw that Max's cutlery had been put away." "We changed our minds," I said. "Maxim probably won't come home at all tonight." "Sneaking away?" Favre said with a smirk that disgusted me. "I don't know if you're going to tell me he's gone. Of course, given the circumstances, it's the best thing for him to do. Some people get annoyed when they hear gossip. It's quieter to run away, yes." wrong?" "I don't expect you," I said. "Don't understand?" he said. "Oh, forget it, you don't think I'll believe you, do you? Excuse me, are you feeling better now? It was really bad to faint in public in the communication hall this afternoon. I wanted to come over, Helped you out of the hall, but I saw a chivalrous knight beside you. I bet Frank Crowley thought it was a good job. You asked him to drive you home, didn't you? I Please take me for a ride, you are not even willing to take the Wangma Road with me in the car." "Why do you want to see Maxim?" I asked. Favre leaned over the table and took a cigarette uninvited. "I suppose you wouldn't object to a cigarette?" he said. "The smell of smoke won't make you dizzy, will it? No one can tell exactly what a bride likes or dislikes." He lit the lighter and looked at me over the flames. "You seem to have aged a bit since we last met, don't you?" he said. "Don't know what you've been doing all this time. Showing Frank Crawley around the garden?" He blew a puff of smoke into the air. "Say, will you have old man Frith bring me a whiskey and soda?" I didn't say a word, went and rang the bell.He sat down on the edge of the sofa, dangling his legs, still with a smirk on his lips.Robert came at the bell. "Give Mr. Favre a whiskey-and-soda," I ordered. "Oh, isn't that Robert?" said Favere. "Haven't seen you in a long time. Still making Chris's girls sad?" Robert's face flushed.He glanced at me, embarrassed beyond recognition. "It's all right, boy, I won't reveal your affair. Go ahead and get me a double, quick!" After Robert left, .Favre laughed out loud, flicking ashes on the floor. "Robert had a half-day off once, and I took him out to meet the world," he said. "Rebecca took out a five-pound note and bet me that I wouldn't dare. I won the five, of course. It was the best night of my life. I just laughed, Don't you? Ha, my God! Tell you what, Robert deserves a good beating for being so drunk. However, in good conscience, this boy has a good eye for girls.Of the chicks who played with us that night he picked the best looking one at a time. " Robert came back to the library with a tray of whiskey and soda.He still blushed like a thorn in his back. With a smirk on Favere's face, he watched him pour himself the wine, then leaned on the arm of the sofa and laughed again.He whistled a tune, all the while still staring at Robert. "Is this the one?" he asked. "It's the tune, isn't it? You still like ginger hair, don't you, Robert?" Robert responded with a helpless smile, which looked really pitiful.Favell laughed even more freely.Robert had to turn around and walk out of the house. "Poor baby," Favre said. "I think the boy never got a chance to have a good time after that one. That old Frith always keeps him on a leash." He started to drink and looked around the room with tears in his eyes, and he would glance at me from time to time with a sinister smile on his face. "I don't mind too much if Maxim doesn't come back to supper," he said. "What do you say?" I said nothing, and stood by the fire with my hands behind my back. "You won't let the table on the restaurant table be useless?" He said, looking sideways at me, still with a wicked smile on his face. "Mr. Feffer," I said, "I don't like to neglect a visitor, but I'm very tired. I've had enough of a day. If you can't explain to me why you want to see Maxim, you're welcome." There's not much point in sitting here any longer. You'd better take my advice and go to the estate office tomorrow morning." He slid off the arm of the sofa and walked towards me with a wine glass in his hand. "Oh no," he said. "No, no, don't be so cruel. I'm having a hard day too. Don't go away and leave me. I don't do anybody any harm, really, no. Looks like Max told you a lot of weird things about me, didn't he? " I ignored him. "You think I'm a big bad, don't you?" he said. "But you know, I'm not a bad guy. I am no different from other ordinary people, and I will never do harm to anyone.From what I can tell, you've done a pretty good job in this incident, very well.I have to take my hat off to you, seriously. "The last sentence has been slurred, and the tongue is dead. I regret letting Frith lead this man into the house. "You came to Manderley," he said, waving his arms wildly. "Keeping it all together here, dealing with hundreds of strangers you've never met before, and having the patience to live with Maxim and watch his face; Go your own way. According to me, it takes a lot of effort! I can say this to anyone: It takes a lot of effort!" He swayed a little, so he stood up quickly and put the empty wine glass on the table superior. "It was a shock to me this time around, you know," he said. "A terrible blow. Rebecca is my cousin, and I am very fond of her." "Oh," I said. "I feel sorry for you." "I grew up with her," he continued. "Always good friends. We liked the same people and the same things, and laughed at the same jokes. I think I like Rebecca more than anyone else in the world. And she likes me. This time." It was a terrible blow." "Oh," I said. "Yes, of course." "But what is Max going to do? That's what I want to inquire about. Does he think that he can breathe a sigh of relief once this fake interrogation is over? You don't think so, do you?" Shi has restrained his smile and leaned over to talk to me. "I will vindicate Rebecca," he said, his voice trailing off. "Suicide . . . God, that old coroner's old coroner managed to convince the jury to make a verdict of suicide. You and I both know it's not suicide, don't you?" He leaned closer to me. "Right?" He asked again word by word. Just then the door opened and Maxim came in, followed by Frank.Maxim did not close the door casually, but stood there motionless, staring at Favere. "What the hell are you doing here?" he said. Favre put his hands in his pockets and half turned around.He pondered for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face. "Max, dude, I came here to congratulate you, and the results of the summons this afternoon were not bad!" "Are you going to go out of the house yourself?" said Maxim. "Or let Crowley and I throw you out?" "Hold on, be quiet," Favere said.He lit another cigarette and sat down on the arm of the sofa again. "You don't want Frith to hear what I have to say, do you?" he said. "But if you don't close the door, he'll hear it." Maxim stood there without moving.I saw Frank close the door softly. "Okay, listen to me now, Max," Favre said. "This time it took you easy, didn't it? It turned out better than you expected. Oh, by the way, I was at the arraignment this afternoon. I'm sure you saw me. I was there from start to finish.I saw Mrs. Zun fainted, that was a very critical moment.I don't think it's her fault. The situation at that time was really critical. What will happen next in the arraignment can be said to be a close call, isn't it, Max?But luckily for you, the interrogation ended up with such a result.You didn't secretly hand over money to those dumbass jurors, did you?The way I see it, those guys must be fucking bribed. " Maxim took a step towards Favere, but Favere immediately raised a hand. "Wait a minute, will you?" he said. "I haven't finished yet. Brother Max, do you realize that if I want to, I can make things very difficult for you? Not only difficult, but even quite dangerous!" I sat down in a chair by the fire and clung to the arms of the chair.Frank came over and stood behind my chair. Maxim still didn't move, and kept staring at Favere. "Oh, is it?" said Maxim. "How can you make me feel that things are dangerous?" "Listen, Max," Favre said. "I guess, there is no secret between me and Mrs. Madam, and from various indications, this Crowley is also the same. You are quite a trinity! Therefore, I can have something to say. To be frank, I'm ready to be frank with you too. You all know about Rebecca's relationship with me. Is it not true that I am in love with her?I have never denied this fact and never will.Well, that's clear.To this day, I, like other fools, think that Rebecca was drowned while sailing in the bay, and her body was found at Edgecombe a few weeks later.At the time, the news came as a bolt from the blue, but I said to myself, "This is how Rebecca wants to die, and she will fight to die, just as she did in life," he paused, and sat down. From the arm of the sofa he looked us over one by one. "But I read in the evening papers a few days ago that local divers had stumbled upon Rebecca's boat, and that there was a body in the cabin. I was confused. Who was Rebecca going to sail with?" The ship sailing? It doesn't make sense. So I went here and found a hotel outside Chris City. I got in touch with Mrs. Danvers. She told me that the body in the cabin should be Changbei Card. Even so, I, like everyone else, think that the first female body was misidentified, and that Rebecca must have been accidentally locked in the cabin when she went down to get a coat. But, as you all know, I attended Today's arraignment. Everything went well in the beginning, didn't it? Until Taber came forward to testify. How about after Taber's testimony? Max, my man, about those holes in the floor and being spun Open bilge valve, what can you say?" "Do you think," said Maxim, sternly, "that after hours of cross-examination in the afternoon I would be willing to talk about it? Especially with you! You have heard the testimony and the verdict. The coroner did not If you disagree, you should be satisfied." “你指自杀，是吗？”费弗尔说。“吕蓓卡自杀身死。这像她平时的所作所为吗？听着，你大概不知道我手里有这张便条吧？我把它保存下来了，因为这是她给我的最后一封信。我念出来让你们听一听，也许你会很感兴趣呢。” 他从口袋里摸出一张纸片。我一眼就认出了那手纤细的尖头斜体字。 “我从公寓打电话找你，可是没人接听，”费弗尔读着便条。“我马上动身回曼陀丽去。今晚我在海滩小屋等你，如果你能及时读到此信，是否请你立即开车赶来一聚。 我准备在小屋过夜，并为你留着门。我有事相告，要及早见你一面。吕蓓卡上“ 读完后。他一边把便条塞回口袋，一边说：“一个人在自杀之前是不会写这么封信的，是不是？那天我直到早晨四点左右才回家，读到这封信。我没料到吕蓓卡这天会到伦敦来，要不然我肯定要同她联系的。真倒霉，那天晚上我去参加宴会了。清晨四点钟读到这封信时，我想即使十万火急地动身到曼陀丽来，开车要六个小时，无论如何也赶不上约会。于是我就上床睡觉，打算过一会打个电话给她。我十二点钟左右打了个电话，结果听说吕蓓卡淹死了！” 他坐着目不转睛地打量迈克西姆。我们三人谁也不说话。 “要是让今天下午的验尸官读到这张便条，迈克斯老兄，难道不会给你惹出些麻烦来吗？”费弗尔问。 “那么，”迈克西姆说，“你干吗不当场站出来把这张纸交给验尸官？” “别着急，老兄，安静一下。干吗发火？我可不想弄得你家破人亡，迈克斯。苍天在上，你对我从未表示过友好，我可并不因此怀恨在心。跟漂亮女子结婚的男人都爱吃醋，我难道没说对？其中有些人会情不自禁地扮演奥赛罗的角色。这些人生性就爱妒嫉，所以倒也不能怪他们。我只是为这些人感到遗憾。你们知道，我这人信奉自己独特的社会主义。我弄不懂做丈夫的为什么不肯把妻子拿出来与人共享，却非把她们杀了不可。 有什么两样呢？作为男人，你还不是一样作乐？面目姣好的娘儿们可不比一个汽车轮胎，俏娘儿们不会一使用就成了旧货。你越是跟她相好，她就变得越加妩媚动人。OK.迈克斯，我可是把一手牌全亮在桌上了。咱俩为什么不能达成某种协议？我不是个富翁，都怪我嗜赌如命。不过我最担心的还是赌本不足。所以，倘若能有两三千镑一年的进款，了我此生，我可以舒舒服服过日子了。我也保证不再给你添麻烦。这点我可以当着上帝的面发誓。 " “刚才我曾要求你离开这所屋子，”迈克西姆说。“我不再第二次提出要求了。门在我身后，你自己开门滚吧！” “等一等，迈克西姆，”弗兰克说。“事情不那么简单！”接着，他转身对着费弗尔说：“我明白你打的是什么主意。真是倒霉，看来你的确可以把事情翻个个儿，给迈克西姆带来些麻烦。我看他是当局者迷。看问题不像我这个旁观者那么清楚。说个数，你要迈克西姆给你多少钱？” 我看到迈克西姆的脸色唰地变白，额头上青筋暴突。“别来插手，弗兰克，”他说。 “这完全是我的私事。我决不向讹诈让步。” “想来你总不愿尊夫人被人指着鼻子骂吧？让别人去说那就是德温特夫人，杀人犯的寡妻，绞决犯的遗孀？”费弗尔说着笑出声来，一面还朝我瞟了一眼。 “你以为我怕你恐吓，费弗尔？”迈克西姆说。“哼，你错啦！不管你怎么工于心计，我都不怕。隔壁房间有架电话，要不要我给朱利安上校打个电话，请他来一次？他是行政官，对你刚才说的一番话定会很感兴趣。”费弗尔瞪眼看着他，然后又笑着说：“你倒挺会唬人。可谁也不会上当。你不敢给朱利安上校打电话的。我手头有足够的证据把你送上绞刑架，迈克斯老兄。”迈克西姆不慌不忙穿过藏书室，朝隔壁的小房间走去。我听他卡嗒拿起电话听筒。 “去阻止他！”我对弗兰克说。“看在上帝的份上，别让他打电话。” 弗兰克的目光在我脸上一扫而过，接着就快步朝门口走去。 我听见迈克西姆在打电话，声音既沉着又平静：“给我接克里斯十七号。”费弗尔直瞪瞪地盯着门口望，脸色好奇而又紧张。 “不管你的事，”我听见迈克西姆对弗兰克这样说。两分钟以后电话接通了。“是朱利安上校吗？我是德温特。对，对，我知道。我想问一下，你能不能立刻到这儿来一次。不错，到曼陀丽来。事情相当紧急。电话上不能细说，反正一到这儿你就会明白的。 我真抱歉，非把你请出来不可。是的，太感谢了。回头见。 " 他走回房间说：“朱利安马上就到。”接着，他穿过房间，推开窗子。外面仍然大雨倾盆。他背对我们，站在窗前，呼吸清凉的空气。 “迈克西姆”弗兰克轻声呼唤。 "Maxim." 迈克西姆没吱声，费弗尔却乐了，又伸手去取了一支烟。“如果你执意要上绞刑架，对我可没什么两样。”他说着随手从桌上捡起一份报纸，一屁股坐进沙发，翘着二郎腿，开始翻阅。弗兰克一时不知怎么办才好。始而看看我，接着又望望迈克西姆，然后走到我身边。 “你难道也束手无策了？”我低声说。“能不能请你出去等着朱利安上校，把他拦回去，就说这是一场误会？” 迈克西姆站在窗前头也不回地说：“弗兰克不准离开这个房间。这事情得由我独自处置。过十分钟朱利安上校准到。” 谁也没再开口说话。费弗尔只管埋头读报。周围没一点儿声响，只有持续不停的雨声滴答人耳，显得那么单调。我深感走投无路，浑身上下一点力气也没有。我无能为力；弗兰克也无能为力。要是写小说或演戏，我就可以在这时找到一把手枪，打死费弗尔，把他的尸体藏进一口大厨。可是现实生活里没有手枪，也没有大橱，我们都是些普通的常人，不会有这类惊险的经历。此刻，我无法走到迈克西姆跟前，跪在地上求他把这笔钱交给费弗尔算了，我只能双手揣在怀里，坐着果望屋外的雨景和站在窗口的迈克西姆的背影。 因为雨大，雨声盖过了一切其他声响，所以谁也没听见汽车驶近的声音。直到弗里思推开门，把朱利安上校让进屋里，我们才知道他已经到了。 迈克西姆从窗口转过身来。“晚安，”他说。“又见面啦。你来得真快。” “是的，”朱利安上校说。“你说有急事，所以我搁下电话就动身，幸好司机把车准备着随时可用。今晚的天气真够呛！” 他用狐疑的目光扫了费弗尔一眼，接着走过来同我握手，并向弗兰克颔首致意。 “总算下雨了，这倒是好事，”他说。“这场雨酝酿得太久啦。但愿您此刻已觉得好过些了。” 我含糊不清地咕哝了几句，自己也不知道说了些什么。朱利安上校挨个儿看了我们一眼，一边搓着双手。 “你大概明白，”迈克西姆说，“这样的雨夜请你到此，当然不是为了在晚饭前花半小时聊聊天。这位是杰克?费弗尔，我亡妻的嫡亲表兄。不知道你们二位是否曾经幸会。” 朱利安上校点点头说：“你的脸好熟呵。也许早先我曾在这儿见过你。” “一点不错，”迈克西姆说。“讲吧，费弗尔。” 费弗尔从沙发上站起身，把报纸扔回桌上。十分钟一过，他像是清醒了些，走路时步子挺稳，脸上也不再挂着奸笑。我觉得事情闹到这一步并不完全合他的心意，他也没有跟朱利安上校打照面的思想准备。这时，费弗尔大声讲话，那腔调颇有点旁若无人：“听着，朱利安上校，我想没必要转弯抹角。本人到这儿来是因为对于今天下午传讯会上作出的裁决不敢苟同。” “是吗？”朱利安上校说。“这话与其出自你的口，想来更该由德温特说吧？” “不，我不以为这样，”费弗尔说。“我有权提出异议，不但以吕蓓卡表兄的身分。 要是她活下去，我还是她未来的丈夫呢！ " 朱利安上校露出惊愕的表情。“啊，”他说。“原来如此。那自然又当别论。德温特，这是真的？” 迈克西姆一耸肩说：“这是头一回听说。” 朱利安上校以疑问的目光，看看这个，接着又看看那个。“听着，费弗尔，”他说，“你到底对什么不满意？” 费弗尔以呆滞的目光看着上校，有好一会。我看出他是在心底盘算，只是此刻他还不十分清醒，无法把自己心里的打算—一付诸实现。他慢腾腾地把手伸进背心的口袋，取出吕蓓卡写的便条。“在吕蓓卡作那次所谓的自杀出航之前几小时，她写了这张便条。 你拿去看吧。我要求你读一读便条，然后请你告诉我，一个写这种便条的女人是不是可能打定主意要自杀。 " 朱利安上校从口袋里掏出一个盒子，从中取出眼镜，读了便条。过后他把纸条还给费弗尔，回答说二“不，从表象看，不会。但是便条内指的是什么，我不明白。也许你知道。要不，德温特知道？” 迈克西姆没有回答。费弗尔用手指搓着那纸条，一面不住地打量朱利安上校的脸色。 “我表妹在这封信里安排了一个时间、地点都非常确定的约会，是不是？”费弗尔说。 “她特地吩咐，让我当夜开车来曼陀丽，因为她有事相告。究竟是什么事，我看谁也没法知道真相了。可这与本题无关。要紧的是她安排了约会，而为了见我特地在海滩小屋过夜。至于她开船出去这个事实本身，我也不觉得奇怪。她常常这样，在伦敦忙了一天之后，松散个把小时。可是在船上砸洞，有意寻死溺毙，这可是那种神经质的女人一时冲动的蠢举。哦，不，朱利安上校，老天爷有眼，她才不这么干呢！”血涌上这家伙的脸，说到最后他已大声叫喊起来。这种腔调对他其实并无好处，我看见朱利安上校嘴角隐隐撅起，这说明他对费弗尔印象不佳。 “亲爱的朋友，”上校说，“跟我发脾气一点儿也没用。我不是主持今天下午传讯会的验尸官，也不是作出裁决的陪审团一员。我只不过是本地的行政官。当然，我愿意尽力效劳，为你，也为德温特。另一方面，你跟别人一样，也听取了船舶建筑师的证明，说是阀门大开，船底有洞。好吧，让咱们直入本题。你以为事情的实在经过怎么样？” 费弗尔转过头去，眼光慢慢移到迈克西姆身上，一边还在用手指搓那便条。“吕蓓卡从来没旋开海底阀门，也没在船板上开那些洞；吕蓓卡决不是自杀的。你问我的看法，那好，苍天在上，我这就说。吕蓓卡被人谋杀了。要是你想知道凶手是谁，这不，就是站在窗口这家伙，脸上挂着高人一等的该死的微笑。这家伙没等得及给死者过周年，就把他遇到的第一个女孩子匆匆娶来做了妻子。就是这家伙，你要抓的凶手就是他——迈克西米伦?德温特先生。仔细看看这家伙，把他吊在绞刑架上，仪表倒挺不错，对吧？” 费弗尔说完纵声大笑，这是醉汉的刺耳尖笑，笑得做作，笑得莫名其妙。他一边笑，一边还是不住地用手指搓着吕蓓卡写的便条。