XVI.
Mrs. Fortress's statement made everything clear to me, and also markedout for me a clear path of duty. Knowing what I now knew, it wouldhave been an act of monstrous wickedness to allow Reginald to marryMildred. Never could I hope to be forgiven did I not prevent theunion. Better that my son should live a life of unhappiness throughall his days than enter into a contract which would doom the unborn tomadness--perhaps to crime. It was not only an offence against man, itwas an offence against God. The task before me was difficult, I knew;but I must face it bravely and without flinching. Hearts would bebroken in the struggle--well, better that than the awful consequenceswhich would follow such a marriage. My own heart bled as Icontemplated what must occur during the next few weeks.
Thus did I excitedly reason with myself in the first heat of therevelation. When I became cooler I saw more clearly the difficultiesin my way. What evidence had I to produce? That of an old woman whohad given me certain information--which tallied with my ownsuspicions--for a large sum of money. A cunning woman, to supplyme with what she saw I wished. Cunning from the first. Paidliberally--nay, extravagantly--always, according to her ownconfession. Her one single motive in the matter from first tolast--money. Was it likely, being in service so temptinglyremunerative, that she should not adopt every cunning means to retainit? There was not only the immediate pay, but the prospect of a rewardwhich would make her comfortable for life. She had so man[oe]uvredthat she gained this reward. During the lifetime of Gabriel Carew'smother Mrs. Fortress held supreme power over her. Her son was onlyallowed to see her a few minutes at a time at intervals of weeks. Evenher husband, at the bidding of this clever woman, was deniedadmittance to his wife's chamber. What difficulty was there, in thosedays and weeks of seclusion, to so oppress, irritate, and torture thepoor patient as to compel her to put on the semblance of madness--todrive her into it indeed? Such cases were not unknown. Even now, fromtime to time, the public heart is stirred by a sudden revelation ofsuch atrocities.
These were cogent arguments which I raised against myself. With myselfin my son's place I should confidently advance them, and should laughto scorn the weak opposition which would bar my way to happiness. Isighed as I thought. The obstacles in my way were every moment growingmore formidable.
These were not the only arguments against myself which occurred to me.There was Mrs. Fortress's conduct when she left Rosemullion after thedeath of her mistress. Gabriel Carew had made a pitiful appeal to her.How had she met him? By assuming a mysterious air, indicating that shehad the key to a secret in which he was vitally interested, but thatshe did not intend to give it to him. Why had she done this? Who coulddoubt the answer to such a question? It was necessary to the _role_she had adopted. Any other course would have led to an exposure of hervile scheme. There was the legacy which Mr. Carew left her in hiswill. Were the real truth known she might be deprived of it.Therefore, the assumption of mystery in her last interview withGabriel Carew. A cunning woman indeed.
Against evidence so flimsy there was a heavy weight of testimony. Wasnot Gabriel Carew a loving husband and father? No person could disputeit. He loved his wife and child, and they loved him. Was he ever knownto commit a cruel act! Never. Was not his purse ever open to the callof charity? Innumerable instances that such was so could be adduced.Could even light acts of rudeness and incivility be laid at his door?What was the worst that could be said of him? That he was not fond ofsociety, that he was a recluse. Could not this be said of hundreds ofestimable men, and was it ever put forth as a distinct offence? If hedid not himself go into society, did he prevent his wife and childfrom doing so? On the contrary. He encouraged them to seek amusementwhich he, a grave man and a student, possibly deemed frivolous. Fondof books, seeking his greatest pleasures in them, was not thisdistinctly in his favour, and did it not prove him to be of a superiornature to the common herd? The heaviest charge was that which, inconversation with me, he had brought against himself--that on theapproach of night his spirits became gloomy. Slight grounds indeed forso serious an accusation as insanity. Madmen were proverbiallycunning. Gabriel Carew was the soul of frankness, himself opening updiscussions which would tell against him were he not mentally andphysically sound and healthy. I began to despair.
These reflections did not all pass through my mind in the silencewhich followed the conclusion of Mrs. Fortress's statement. They arethe summing-up of my thoughts at that time and during my homewardjourney. Meanwhile, Mrs. Fortress was waiting patiently for me to putany questions which might occur to me.
"Beyond yourself, Mrs. Fortress," I said, "and your master andmistress, was there no person cognisant with Mrs. Carew's condition?"
"None, sir, with the exception of the foreign doctor."
"Can you tell me his name?"
"I do not know it, but a doctor of his learning would not have been ayoung man when Mr. Carew consulted him, and it is hardly likely hewould be now living."
"True," I said.
"Besides," she added, "his experience of Mrs. Carew could have beenbut slight. Almost immediately after he gave Mr. Carew his opinion ofmy mistress, they left for England, as I have told you."
"Yes," I remarked, "and he may, after all, have been mistaken."
She shrank a little, I fancied, but she said firmly, "He may havebeen, I was not."
"I am not doubting you, Mrs. Fortress," I said.
She interposed here by saying, "It is immaterial whether you are ornot. The facts are as I have stated them."
"I understand, of course, that you have spoken honestly, but is it notpossible you may have judged wrongly?"
"I cannot admit it, sir," she replied with calm dignity. "It is notpossible."
Certainly she maintained her ground. I continued my inquiry.
"Before Mr. Carew came into his second fortune he lived humbly inLondon?"
"Yes; in poor lodgings."
"Did the house contain other lodgers?"
"Yes."
"And did not any of them suspect or discover the mystery so close tothem?"
"In my belief not another person in the house had any suspicion."
"You lived for many years in Rosemullion?"
"Yes."
"Did not Mrs. Carew have a medical adviser?"
"A doctor called and saw her from time to time."
"Was he not aware of her condition?"
"He was not. His visits were a mere matter of form, and he frequentlycalled at the house without seeing my mistress."
"By whose directions was she denied to him?"
"By mine. It was part of my duty to preserve my master's secret."
"I am sure you did your duty, Mrs. Fortress."
Her lip curled. She did not thank me.
"Did this doctor ever see Mrs. Carew alone?"
"Never. I took care always to be present, and I always prepared mymistress for his visits, warning her to be careful."
"Did she never rebel?"
"With respect to the doctor, never. I had my difficult days with her,but that was my business, and mine alone."
"He must have been a careful and conscientious man," I said somewhatsarcastically.
She capped me by replying, "His accounts were regularly paid. Perhapsthat was sufficient for him."
"Perhaps," I said, and I could not avoid a smile, though I was reallyindignant. "Can you tell me anything more to guide me? Do you think itwas Mr. Carew's intention to keep his son in complete ignorance ofthis misfortune, even after the death of your mistress?"
"I am not positive. My master died during a visit to Wales, while mymistress was still living. It is probable, had he survived his wife,that he would have spoken to his son on the subject. I cannot say forcertain, but, from certain words he once used I believe he left somerecord behind him."
This suggestion aroused me.
"Some written record?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Where would he have deposited it?"
"In Rosemullion my m
aster had his private room, into which no one wasallowed to enter. There are large safes built in the walls of thatroom. If the record I believe my master made is found anywhere, itwill be in that room. I have nothing more to say, sir. I have told youall I know. Whether you believe me or not does not concern me. Whenyou see Mr. Gabriel, sir, give him my humble duty."
A Secret Inheritance (Volume 3 of 3) Page 10