面纱 英文原本-第14部分
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There are always insuperable difficulties with women in these matters； and
the effect on the supposed dead body may be startling。 You and I will sit
up together； and be in readiness。 When certain symptoms appear I shall
take you in； and at the right moment we must manage to get every one else
out of the room。〃
I need not give our farther conversation on the subject。 He entered
very fully into the details； and overcame my repulsion from them； by
exciting in me a mingled awe and curiosity concerning the possible results
of his experiment。
We prepared everything； and he instructed me in my part as assistant。
He had not told Bertha of his absolute conviction that Archer would not
survive through the night； and endeavoured to persuade her to leave the
patient and take a night's rest。 But she was obstinate； suspecting the fact
that death was at hand； and supposing that he wished merely to save her
nerves。 She refused to leave the sick…room。 Meunier and I sat up
together in the library； he making frequent visits to the sick…room； and
returning with the information that the case was taking precisely the
course he expected。 Once he said to me； 〃Can you imagine any cause of
ill… feeling this woman has against her mistress； who is so devoted to her？〃
〃I think there was some misunderstanding between them before her
illness。 Why do you ask？〃
〃Because I have observed for the last five or six hourssince； I fancy；
she has lost all hope of recoverythere seems a strange prompting in her
to say something which pain and failing strength forbid her to utter； and
there is a look of hideous meaning in her eyes； which she turns continually
towards her mistress。 In this disease the mind often remains singularly
clear to the last。〃
〃I am not surprised at an indication of malevolent feeling in her；〃 I
said。 〃She is a woman who has always inspired me with distrust and
dislike； but she managed to insinuate herself into her mistress's favour。〃
He was silent after this； looking at the fire with an air of absorption； till he
went upstairs again。 He stayed away longer than usual； and on returning；
said to me quietly； 〃e now。〃
I followed him to the chamber where death was hovering。 The dark
hangings of the large bed made a background that gave a strong relief to
Bertha's pale face as I entered。 She started forward as she saw me enter；
and then looked at Meunier with an expression of angry inquiry； but he
lifted up his hand as it to impose silence； while he fixed his glance on the
dying woman and felt her pulse。 The face was pinched and ghastly； a cold
perspiration was on the forehead； and the eyelids were lowered so as to
conceal the large dark eyes。 After a minute or two； Meunier walked
round to the other side of the bed where Bertha stood； and with his usual
air of gentle politeness towards her begged her to leave the patient under
our careeverything should be done for hershe was no longer in a state
to be conscious of an affectionate presence。 Bertha was hesitating；
apparently almost willing to believe his assurance and to ply。 She
looked round at the ghastly dying face； as if to read the confirmation of
that assurance； when for a moment the lowered eyelids were raised again；
and it seemed as if the eyes were looking towards Bertha； but blankly。 A
shudder passed through Bertha's frame； and she returned to her station
near the pillow； tacitly implying that she would not leave the room。
The eyelids were lifted no more。 Once I looked at Bertha as she
watched the face of the dying one。 She wore a rich peignoir； and her
blond hair was half covered by a lace cap： in her attire she was； as
always； an elegant woman； fit to figure in a picture of modern aristocratic
life： but I asked myself how that face of hers could ever have seemed to
me the face of a woman born of woman； with memories of childhood；
capable of pain； needing to be fondled？ The features at that moment
seemed so preternaturally sharp； the eyes were so hard and eagershe
looked like a cruel immortal； finding her spiritual feast in the agonies of a
dying race。 For across those hard features there came something like a
flash when the last hour had been breathed out； and we all felt that the
dark veil had pletely fallen。 What secret was there between Bertha
and this woman？ I turned my eyes from her with a horrible dread lest my
insight should return； and I should be obliged to see what had been
breeding about two unloving women's hearts。 I felt that Bertha had been
watching for the moment of death as the sealing of her secret： I thanked
Heaven it could remain sealed for me。
Meunier said quietly； 〃She is gone。〃 He then gave his arm to Bertha；
and she submitted to be led out of the room。
I suppose it was at her order that two female attendants came into the
room； and dismissed the younger one who had been present before。
When they entered； Meunier had already opened the artery in the long thin
neck that lay rigid on the pillow； and I dismissed them； ordering them to
remain at a distance till we rang： the doctor； I said； had an operation to
performhe was not sure about the death。 For the next twenty minutes I
forgot everything but Meunier and the experiment in which he was so
absorbed； that I think his senses would have been closed against all sounds
or sights which had no relation to it。 It was my task at first to keep up the
artificial respiration in the body after the transfusion had been effected； but
presently Meunier relieved me； and I could see the wondrous slow return
of life； the breast began to heave； the inspirations became stronger； the
eyelids quivered； and the soul seemed to have returned beneath them。
The artificial respiration was withdrawn： still the breathing continued；
and there was a movement of the lips。
Just then I heard the handle of the door moving： I suppose Bertha
had heard from the women that they had been dismissed： probably a
vague fear had arisen in her mind； for she entered with a look of alarm。
She came to the foot of the bed and gave a stifled cry。
The dead woman's eyes were wide open； and met hers in full
recognitionthe recognition of hate。 With a sudden strong effort； the
hand that Bertha had thought for ever still was pointed towards her； and
the haggard face moved。 The gasping eager voice said
〃You mean to poison your husband 。 。 。 the poison is in the black
cabinet 。 。 。 I got it for you 。 。 。 you laughed at me； and told lies about me
behind my back； to make me disgusting 。 。 。 because you were jealous 。 。 。
are you sorry 。 。 。 now？〃
The lips continued to murmur； but the sounds were no longer distinct。
Soon there was no soundonly a slight movement： the flame had leaped
out； and was being extinguished the faster。 The wretched woman's heart…
strings had been set to hatred and vengeance； the spirit of life had swept
the chords for an instant； and was gone again for ever。 Great God！ Is
this what it is to live again 。 。 。 to wake up with our unsti
