Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/302

"Neither of them saw me. Neither could have seen me, for I was not there."

"Sylvester, their evidence is strong, and, I fear, too conclusive. Thompson undertakes to swear that he saw you coming from the ante-room which leads to Lady Julian's chamber."

"He does!"

"He does; and is, moreover, prepared to swear that he let you out. His statement is this: that being anxious to see the butler at the next house, he went and conversed with him, until he heard Sir Charles's carriage approaching; that he instantly returned, and on his return, found the door as he had left it, slightly open; that he then closed the door, until the carriage should be announced, and having occasion to go up-stairs, saw you coming from the ante-room alone; and that on seeing you he descended and let you out, just as the carriage drew up to the gate.

"It is false! every word of it! utterly false!"

"He declares every word of it to be true! He also declares every word of it to be true! He also declares that he should have spoken to you had he not felt that one of the other servants had let you in. In fact, having seen you there so frequently, and at almost all hours, both with me and alone, I don't suppose the idea of there being any impropriety in the visit for a moment occurred to him."

"Well, but why did not Sir Charles himself speak?"

"He did do so: at least, he says that he called to you before he could alight, and that you bowed and passed on; when, fearing that Lady Julian—who is in a delicate state still—had had a relapse, he went immediately up to her chamber, and had she not at once denied that you had been there, no more would have been thought of the matter."

"She was justified in denying it! She was bound to deny it! I had not been there. If I had, be assured that to you I would, under existing circumstances, confess it."

"I thought that you would!"

"And think so still. Either Sir Charles and his butler have been grossly mistaken, or they have conspired to blast her reputation and mine."

"That they have both been mistaken is certainly possible; but in the possibility of Sir Charles having entered into any such conspiracy I cannot believe. I know him to be devotedly attached to his wife. I have known him privately, and under almost every variety of circumstances for years, and if any man can be said to know another's heart, I know his. No, Sylvester; be assured that he is incapable of entering into such conspiracy."

"What then is to be thought of it? He knows me well! I am perfectly well known to them both! And is it not almost inconceivable that either of them could, under the circumstances, have mistaken any one else for me?"

"It does indeed appear to be almost inconceivable."

"Well!" exclaimed Sylvester. "The thing begins to assume a serious aspect!"