<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></SPAN>CHAPTER XI</h2>
<h3>HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING</h3>
<p>Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room. The two women in whose fate he
was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired
and there was no other eye he feared. Indeed, he courted an interview
with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had
little reason to think it could not. So he went down-stairs.</p>
<p>In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of
reality. Here was no mystery. Here was life as he knew it. Walking boldly
into the office, he ran his eye over the half-dozen men who sat there
and, picking out the lawyer from the rest, sauntered easily up to him and
sat down.</p>
<p>"My name is Johnston," said he. "I'm from New York; like yourself, I
believe."</p>
<p>The lawyer, with a twinkle in his light-blue eye, answered with a cordial
nod; and in two minutes a lively conversation had begun between them on
purely impersonal subjects suited to the intelligence of the crowd they
were in. This did not last, however. An opportunity soon came for them to
stroll off together, and presently Mr. Ransom found himself closeted with
this man who he had reason to believe was the sole holder of the key to
the secret which was devouring him.</p>
<p>A bottle of wine was on the table between them, and some cigars. As Mr.
Ransom filled the two glasses, he spoke:</p>
<p>"I have to thank you—" he began, but saw immediately that he had made a
wrong start.</p>
<p>"For what, <i>Mr. Johnston</i>?" asked the other coldly.</p>
<p>"For giving me this opportunity to speak alone with you," Ransom
explained with a nervous gesture. "An hour of unrestrained gossip is so
necessary to me after a day of hard work. Perhaps you don't know that I
am an author—have been one for seven whole hours. I find it exhausting.
You could give me great relief by talking a little on some foreign
subject, say on the one now engrossing every one in the house, the twin
ladies from New York. You were in the same coach with them. Did they
quarrel and did the most wilful of the two insist on getting out at the
foot of the hill and walking up through the lane?"</p>
<p>"I doubt if I have anything to say to Mr. Johnston on this subject," was
the wary reply.</p>
<p>"What if he added another name to the Johnston?"</p>
<p>"It would make no appreciable difference. The driver is a loquacious
fellow, talk to him."</p>
<p>Mr. Ransom felt his heart fail him. He surveyed closely the mouth which
had uttered this off-hand sentence and saw that it was set in a line
there was no mistaking. Little enlightenment was to be got from this man.
Yet he made one more effort.</p>
<p>"Did my wife sign the will?" he asked. "All pretense aside, this is a
very important matter to me, Mr. Harper; not on account of the money
involved, but because the doing of this simple act seemed to require such
an effort on her part."</p>
<p>"You are mistaken," was the quick reply, harshly accentuated. "She did
just what she wanted to do. She was not in the least coerced, unless it
was by circumstances."</p>
<p>"Circumstances! But that is what I mean. They seem to have been too much
for her. I want to understand these circumstances."</p>
<p>The lawyer honored him with his first direct look.</p>
<p>"I don't understand them myself," said he.</p>
<p>"You don't?"</p>
<p>"No."</p>
<p>Mr. Ransom set down the wineglass he had raised half-way to his lips.</p>
<p>"You have simply followed her orders?"</p>
<p>"You have said it. Your wife is a woman of much more character than you
think. She has amazed me."</p>
<p>"She is amazing me. I am here; she is here; only a few boards separate
us. But iron bars could not be more effectual. I dare not approach her
door; dare not ask her to accept from me the natural protection of a
lover and husband. Instinct holds me back, or her will, which may not
be stronger than mine but is certainly more dominant."</p>
<p>"Lawyers do not believe much in instinct as a usual thing, but I should
advise confidence in this one. A woman with a tremendous will like that
of Mrs. Ransom should be allowed a slack tether. The day will arrive when
she will come to you herself. This I have said before; I can say nothing
more to you to-night."</p>
<p>"Then there is nothing in the will you have drawn up to show that she has
lost her affection for me?"</p>
<p>The lawyer drained his glass.</p>
<p>"I have not been given permission to declare its terms," said he, when
his glass was again upon the table.</p>
<p>"In other words, I am to know nothing," exclaimed his exasperated
companion.</p>
<p>"Not from me."</p>
<p>And this ended the conversation. Ransom withdrew immediately up-stairs.</p>
<p>At ten o'clock he retired. The last look he cast down the hall had shown
him the drowsy figure of the maid still sitting at her watch. It seemed
to insure a peaceful night. But he had little expectation of sleep.
Though the wind had quieted down and the rain fell with increasing
gentleness, the roar of the waterfall surged through all his thoughts,
which in themselves were turbulent. He did sleep, however, slept
peacefully till half-past one, when he and all in the house were startled
by a wild and piercing cry rising from one of the rooms. Terror was in
the sound and in an instant every door was open save the two which were
shut upon Georgian and her twin sister.</p>
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