Throughout this narration Doctor Louis was impressed by the suspicion
that something was hidden from him. He pressed Emilius upon the point,
and his suspicion was strengthened by the evasive replies he received.
"Enough, for the present, of myself," said Emilius; "let me hear
something of the outside world--of the world that is dead to me."
"What do you wish to know?" asked Doctor Louis sadly.
"Of yourselves," replied Emilius. "Of your good wife, whom I used to
look upon as a second mother. She is well?"
"She is well," said Doctor Louis, "but in deep unhappiness because of
these terrible events."
"How does she regard me--as innocent or guilty?"
"She has the firmest belief in your innocence. When I told her I was
about to visit you, she desired me to give you her love and sympathy."
"It is like her. And Lauretta?"
"I did not inform her that I was coming. She is in great distress. You
and Eric were as brothers to her."
"And now," said Emilius, with a certain recklessness of manner which
puzzled Doctor Louis, "one is dead and the other disgraced. But she
will live through it. She has a happy future before her?"
He put this somewhat in the form of a question, to which Doctor Louis
replied without hesitation: "We have the best of reasons for hoping
so. But our conversation, Emilius, appears to have taken a heartless
turn. Let us rather consider the chances of establishing your
innocence and setting you free."
"No, let us continue to speak of your family. There may not be another
opportunity--who knows? My judges may take it into their heads to keep
me in solitary confinement, and to deprive me entirely of the solace
of friendly intercourse, until they have got rid of me altogether. The
chances of establishing my innocence are scarcely worth considering;
they are so slender. Slender! They are not even that. I see no
loophole, nor do you. What is wanted is fact--hard, solid fact, such
as an actual witness, or a frank confession from the murderer.
Everything tangible and intangible is against me. Eric and I were
rivals in a woman's love; we had a meeting, in which we reconciled our
differences, and in which the horror of brotherly hatred was scotched
clean dead. Who were present at this meeting? My dear brother, who is
gone and cannot testify; and I, whose interest it is to say whatever
my tongue can utter in my defence. To prove my innocence I can bring
forward--what? Shadows. I could forgive my judges for laughing at me
were I to set up such a defence. Easier to believe that I killed my
brother in a dream. Could that be proved, there would be some hope for
me, for it might be argued that I was not accountable. Let us dismiss
it. I have told you all I know positively; for the rest, I am strong
enough to keep it to myself, being aware of the manner in which it
would be received."
"Surely you are not wearied of life!" said Doctor Louis, shocked at
this reckless mood.
"That is not to the point. Wearied or not, it is not in my power to
choose. Were I free, were my fate in my own hands, it would be worth
my while to consider how to act in order that the crime might be fixed
upon the guilty one. And hearken, Doctor, I am not swayed by impulse;
there is something of inward direction which holds me up. I hear
voices, I see visions--not to be heard or seen or taken into account
in a court of justice; of value only in a prison. They assure me that,
though I may suffer and be disgraced, I shall not die until my
innocence is proved."
"Heaven grant it!" exclaimed Doctor Louis.
"Meanwhile, I wait and take the strokes which fate deals out to me. A
crushed manhood, a ruined life, a blasted happiness! And there is a
happy future, you say, before Lauretta? You have every confidence in
Mr. Carew? Lauretta loves him?"
"With her whole heart."
"And you and your good wife approve--are content to intrust her
happiness into his keeping?"
"We are content--we approve."
"May all be as you hope! Say nothing to them of me. The best mercy
that can be accorded to me is the mercy of forgetfulness. I have a
favour to beg of you."
"It is granted."
"You will be kind to my wife; you will not desert her--you will, if
necessary, protect her from her father, who, I fear, will never
forgive her?"
"I will do all that lies in my power to further your wishes--though I
still hope for a favourable turn in your affairs."
"Your hope is vain," said Emilius. "I thank you for your promise."