第44部分(第3/8 頁)

uld　have　been　a　careless　shepherd　if　I　had　left　a　lamb—my　pet　lamb—so　near　a　wolf’s　den；　unguarded：　you　were　safe。”

“Will　Grace　Poole　live　here　still；　sir？”

“Oh　yes！　don’t　trouble　your　head　about　her—put　the　thing　out　of　your　thoughts。”

“Yet　it　seems　to　me　your　life　is　hardly　secure　while　she　stays。”

“Never　fear—I　will　take　care　of　myself。”

“Is　the　danger　you　apprehended　last　night　gone　by　now；　sir？”

“I　cannot　vouch　for　that　till　Mason　is　out　of　England：　nor　even　then。　To　live；　for　me；　Jane；　is　to　stand　on　a　crater…crust　which　may　crack　and　spue　fire　any　day。”

“But　Mr。　Mason　seems　a　man　easily　led。　Your　influence；　sir；　is　evidently　potent　with　him：　he　will　never　set　you　at　defiance　or　wilfully　injure　you。”

“Oh；　no！　Mason　will　not　defy　me；　nor；　knowing　it；　will　he　hurt　me—　but；　unintentionally；　he　might　in　a　moment；　by　one　careless　word；　deprive　me；　if　not　of　life；　yet　for　ever　of　happiness。”

“Tell　him　to　be　cautious；　sir：　let　him　know　what　you　fear；　and　show　him　how　to　avert　the　danger。”

He　laughed　sardonically；　hastily　took　my　hand；　and　as　hastily　threw　it　from　him。

“If　I　could　do　that；　simpleton；　where　would　the　danger　be？　Annihilated　in　a　moment。　Ever　since　I　have　known　Mason；　I　have　only　had　to　say　to　him　‘Do　that；’　and　the　thing　has　been　done。　But　I　cannot　give　him　orders　in　this　case：　I　cannot　say　‘Beware　of　harming　me；　Richard；’　for　it　is　imperative　that　I　should　keep　him　ignorant　that　harm　to