in search of the castaways-第117章

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en　willing　to　brave　the　perils　of　the　sea　for　a　long　time　still　if　they　could　but　find　Captain　Grant。　Consequently；　the　hurrahs　which　greeted　the　return　of　Lord　Glenarvan　to　the　yacht　soon　gave　place　to　dejection。　　Instead　of　the　close　intercourse　which　had　formerly　existed　among　the　passengers；　and　the　lively　conversations　which　had　cheered　the　voyage；　each　one　kept　apart　from　the　others　in　the　solitude　of　his　own　cabin；　and　it　was　seldom　that　anyone　appeared　on　the　deck　of　the　DUNCAN。　Paganel；　who　generally　shared　in　an　exaggerated　form　the　feelings　of　those　about　him；　whether　painful　or　joyous　a　man　who　could　have　invented　hope　if　necessaryeven　Paganel　was　gloomy　and　taciturn。　　He　was　seldom　visible；　his　natural　loquacity　and　French　vivacity　gave　place　to　silence　and　dejection。　He　seemed　even　more　downhearted　than　his　companions。　If　Glenarvan　spoke　at　all　of　renewing　the　search；　he　shook　his　head　like　a　man　who　has　given　up　all　hope；　and　whose　convictions　concerning　the　fate　of　the　shipwrecked　men　appeared　settled。　It　was　quite　evident　he　believed　them　irrevocably　lost。　And　yet　there　was　a　man　on　board　who　could　have　spoken　the　decisive　word；　and　refused　to　break　his　silence。　　This　was　Ayrton。　　There　was　no　doubt　the　fellow　knew；　if　not　the　present　whereabouts　of　the　captain；　at　least　the　place　of　shipwreck。　　But　it　was　evident　that　were　Grant　found；　he　would　be　a　witness　against　him。　　Hence　his　persistent　silence；　which　gave　rise　to　great　indignation　on　board；　especially　among　the　crew；　who　would　have　liked　to　deal　summarily　with　him。　Glenarvan　repeatedly　renewed　his　attempts　with　the　quartermaster；　but　promises　and　threats　were　alike　useless。　Ayrton's　obstinacy　was　so　great；　and　so　inexplicable；　that　the　Major　began　to　believe　he　had　nothing　to　reveal。　His　opinion　was　shared；　moreover；　by　the　geographer；　as　it　corroborated　his　own　notion　about　Harry　Grant。　But　if　Ayrton　knew　nothing；　why　did　he　not　confess　his　ignorance？　It　could　not　be　turned　against　him。　　His　silence　increased　the　difficulty　of　forming　any　new　plan。　　Was　the　presence　of　the　quartermaster　on　the　Australian　continent　a　proof　of　Harry　Grant's　being　there？　It　was　settled　that　they　must　get　this　information　out　of　Ayrton。　Lady　Helena；　seeing　her　husband's　ill…success；　asked　his　permission　to　try　her　powers　against　the　obstinacy　of　the　quartermaster。　When　a　man　had　failed；　a　woman　perhaps；　with　her　gentler　influence；　might　succeed。　　Is　there　not　a　constant　repetition　going　on　of　the　story　of　the　fable　where　the　storm；　blow　as　it　will；　cannot　tear　the　cloak　from　the　shoulders　of　the　traveler；　while　the　first　warm　rays　of　sunshine　make　him　throw　it　off　immediately？　Glenarvan；　knowing　his　young　wife's　good　sense；　allowed　her　to　act　as　she　pleased。　The　same　day　（the　5th　of　March）；　Ayrton　was　conducted　to　Lady　Helena's　saloon。　　Mary　Grant　was　to　be　present　at　the　interview；　for　the　influence　of　the　young　girl　might　be　considerable；　and　Lady　Helena　would　not　lose　any　chance　of　success。　For　a　whole　hour　the　two　ladies　were　closeted　with　the　quartermaster；　but　nothing　transpired　about　their　interview。　What　had　been　said；　what　arguments　they　used　to　win　the　secret　from　the　convict；　or　what　questions　were　asked；　remained　unknown；　but　when　they　left　Ayrton；　they　did　not　seem　to　have　succeeded；　as　the　expression　on　their　faces　denoted　discouragement。　In　consequence　of　this；　when　the　quartermaster　was　being　taken　back　to　his　cabin；　the　sailors　met　him　with　violent　menaces。　He　took　no　notice　except　by　shrugging　his　shoulders；　which　so　increased　their　rage；　that　John　Mangles　and　Glenarvan　had　to　interfere；　and　could　only　repress　it　with　difficulty。　But　Lady　Helena　would　not　own　herself　vanquished。　She　resolved　to　struggle　to　the　last　with　this　pitiless　man；　and　went　next　day　herself　to　his　cabin　to　avoid　exposing　him　again　to　the　vindictiveness　of　the　crew。　The　good　and　gentle　Scotchwoman　stayed　alone　with　the　convict　leader　for　two　long　hours。　　Glenarvan　in　a　state　of　extreme　nervous　anxiety；　remained　outside　the　cabin；　alternately　resolved　to　exhaust　completely　this　last　chance　of　success；　alternately　resolved　to　rush　in　and　snatch　his　wife　from　so　painful　a　situation。　But　this　time　when　Lady　Helena　reappeared；　her　look　was　full　of　hope。　Had　she　succeeded　in　extracting　the　secret；　and　awakening　in　that　adamant　heart　a　last　faint　touch　of　pity？　McNabbs；　who　first　saw　her；　could　not　restrain　a　gesture　of　incredulity。　However　the　report　soon　spread　among　the　sailors　that　the　quartermaster　had　yielded　to　the　persuasions　of　Lady　Helena。　　The　effect　was　electrical。　　The　entire　crew　assembled　on　deck　far　quicker　than　Tom　Austin's　whistle　could　have　brought　them　together。　Glenarvan　had　hastened　up　to　his　wife　and　eagerly　asked：　〃Has　he　spoken？〃　〃No；〃　replied　Lady　Helena；　〃but　he　has　yielded　to　my　entreaties；　and　wishes　to　see　you。〃　〃Ah；　dear　Helena；　you　have　succeeded！〃　〃I　hope　so；　Edward。〃　〃Have　you　made　him　any　promise　that　I　must　ratify？〃　〃Only　one；　that　you　will　do　all　in　your　power　to　mitigate　his　punishment。〃　〃Very　well；　dear　Helena。　　Let　Ayrton　come　immediately。〃　Lady　Helena　retired　to　her　cabin　with　Mary　Grant；　and　the　quartermaster　was　brought　into　the　saloon　where　Lord　Glenarvan　was　expecting　him。

CHAPTER　XVIII　A　DISCOURAGING　CONFESSION

As　soon　as　the　quartermaster　was　brought　into　the　presence　of　Lord　Glenarvan；　his　keepers　withdrew。　〃You　wanted　to　speak　to　me；　Ayrton？〃　said　Glenarvan。　〃Yes；　my　Lord；〃　replied　the　quartermaster。　〃Did　you　wish　for　a　private　interview？〃　〃Yes；　but　I　think　if　Major　McNabbs　and　Mr。　Paganel　were　present　it　would　be　better。〃　〃For　whom？〃　〃For　myself。〃　Ayrton　spoke　quite　calmly　and　firmly。　　Glenarvan　looked　at　him　for　an　instant；　and　then　sent　to　summon　McNabbs　and　Paganel；　who　came　at　once。　〃We　are　all　ready　to　listen　to　you；〃　said　Glenarvan；　when　his　two　friends　had　taken　their　place　at　the　saloon　table。　Ayrton　collected　himself；　for　an　instant；　and　then　said：　〃My　Lord；　it　is　usual　for　witnesses　to　be　present　at　every　contract　or　transaction　between　two　parties。　　That　is　why　I　desire　the　presence　of　Messrs。　　Paganel　and　McNabbs；　for　it　is；　properly　speaking；　a　bargain　which　I　propose　to　make。〃　Glenarvan；　accustomed　to　Ayrton's　ways；　exhibited　no　surprise；　though　any　bargaining　between　this　man　and　himself　seemed　strange。　〃What　is　the　bargain？〃　he　said。　〃This；〃　replied　Ayrton。　　〃You　wish　to　obtain　from　me　certain　facts　which　may　be　useful　to　you。　　I　wish　to　obtain　from　you　certain　advantages　which　would　be　valuable　to　me。　It　is　giving　for　giving；　my　Lord。　　Do　you　agree　to　this　or　not？〃　〃What　are　the　facts？〃　asked　Paganel　eagerly。　〃No；〃　said　Glenarvan。　　〃What　are　the　advantages？〃　Ayrton　bowed　in　token　that　he　understood　Glenarvan's　distinction。　〃These；〃　he　said；　〃are　the　advantages　I　ask。　　It　is　still　your　intention；　I　suppose；　to　deliver　me　up　to　the　English　authorities？〃　〃Yes；　Ayrton；　it　is　only　justice。〃　〃I　don't　say　it　is　not；〃　replied　the　quartermaster　quietly。　〃Then　of　course　you　would　never　consent　to　set　me　at　liberty。〃　Glenarvan　hesitated　before　replying　to　a　question　so　plainly　put。　On　the　answer　he　gave；　perhaps　the　fate　of　Harry　Grant　might　depend！　However；　a　feeling　of　duty　toward　human　justice　compelled　him　to　say：　〃No；　Ayrton；　I