THE LAST NIGHT（第1页）

mr.uttersonwassitbyhisfiresideoneeveningafterdinner，whenhewassurprisedtoreceiveavisitfrompoole.

"blessme，poole，whatbringsyouhere?"hecried;andthentakingasecondlookathim，"whatailsyou?"headded;"isthedoctorill?"

"mr.utterson，"saidtheman，"thereissomethingwrong."

"takeaseat，andhereisaglassofwineforyou，"saidthelawyer."now，takeyourtime，andtellmeplainlywhatyouwant."

"youknowthedoctorsways，sir，"repliedpoole，"andhowheshutshimselfup.well，hesshutupagaininthecabi;andidontlikeit，sir—iwishimaydieifilikeit.mr.utterson，sir，imafraid."

"now，mygoodman，"saidthelawyer，"beexplicit.whatareyouafraidof?"

"ivebeenafraidforaboutaweek，"returnedpoole，edlydisregardingthequestion，"andicanbearitnore."

themansappearanceamplyboreouthiswords;hismannerwasalteredfortheworse;andexceptforthementwhenhehadfirstannouncedhisterror，hehadnotoncelookedthelawyerintheface.evennow，hesatwiththeglassofwineuntastedonhisknee，andhiseyesdirectedtoacornerofthefloor."icanbearitnore，"herepeated.

"e，"saidthelawyer，"iseeyouhavesomegoodreason，poole;iseethereissomethingseriouslyamiss.trytotellmewhatitis."

"ithinktheresbeenfoulplay，"saidpoole，hoarsely.

"foulplay!"criedthelawyer，agooddealfrightenedandratherinclinedtobeirritatedinconsequence."whatfoulplay?whatdoesthemanmean?"

"idarentsay，sir，"wastheanswer;"butwillyouealongwithmeandseeforyourself?"

mr.uttersonsonlyanswerwastoriseandgethishatandgreat-coat;butheobservedwithwonderthegreatnessofthereliefthatappeareduponthebutlersface，andperhapswithnoless，thatthewinewasstil露ntastedwhenhesetitdowntofollow.

itwasawild，cold，seasonablenightofmarch，withapaleon，lyingonherbackasthoughthewindhadtiltedher，andaflyingwrackofthestdiaphanousandlawnytexture.thewindmadetalkingdifficult，andfleckedthebloodintotheface.itseemedtohavesweptthestreetsunusuallybareofpassengers，besides;formr.uttersonthoughthehadneverseenthatpartoflondonsodeserted.hecouldhavewisheditotherwise;neverinhislifehadhebeenconsciousofsosharpawishtoseeandtouchhisfellow-creatures;leashemight，therewasborneinuponhismindacrushinganticipationofcalamity.thesquare，whentheygotthere，wasallfullofwindanddust，andthethintreesinthegardenwerelashingthemselvesalongtherailing.poole，whohadkeptallthewayapaceortwoahead，nowpulledupinthemiddleofthepavement，andinspiteofthebiweather，tookoffhishatandppedhisbrowwitharedpockethandkerchief.butforallthehurryofhising，thesewerenotthedewsofexertionthathewipedaway，buttheistureofsomestranglinganguish;forhisfacewaswhiteandhisvoice，whenhespoke，harshandbroken.

"well，sir，"hesaid，"hereweare，andgodgranttherebenothingwrong."

"amen，poole，"saidthelawyer.

thereupontheservantknockedinaveryguardedmanner;thedoorwasopenedonthechain;andavoiceaskedfromwithin，"isthatyou，poole?"

"itsallright，"saidpoole."openthedoor."thehall，whentheyenteredit，wasbrightlylightedup;thefirewasbuilthigh;andaboutthehearththewholeoftheservants，menandwomen，stoodhuddledtogetherlikeaflockofsheep.atthesightofmr.utterson，thehousemaidbrokeintohystericalwhimpering;andthecook，cryingout，"blessgod!itsmr.utterson，"ranforwardasiftotakehiminherarms.

"what，what?areyouallhere?"saidthelawyerpeevishly."veryirregular，ver玉nseemly;yourmasterwouldbefarfrompleased."

"theyreallafraid，"saidpoole.

blanksilencefollowed，nooneprotes;onlythemaidlifteduphervoiceandnowweptloudly.

"holdyourtongue!"poolesaidtoher，entthattestifiedtohisownjanglednerves;andindeed，whenthegirlhadsosuddenlyraisedthenoteofherlamentation，theyhadallstartedandturnedtowardtheinnerdoorwithfacesofdreadfulexpectation."andnow，"continuedthebutler，addressingtheknife-boy，"reachmeacandle，andwellgetthisthroughhandsatonce."edmr.uttersontofollowhim，andledthewaytotheback-garden.

"now，sir，"saidhe，"youeasgentlyasyoucan.iwantyoutohear，andidontwantyoutobeheard.andseehere，sir，ifbyanychancehewastoaskyouin，dontgo."

mr.uttersonsnerves，atthisunlooked-fortermination，gaveajerkthatnearlythrewhimfromhisbalance;buthere-collectedhiscourageandfollowedthebutlerintothelaboratorybuildingandthroughthesurgicaltheatre，withits露mberofcratesandbottles，tothefootofthestair.herepooletionedhimtostandononesideandlisten;whilehehimself，setdownthecandleandmakingagreatandobviouscallonhisreso露tion，untedthestepsandknockedwithasomewhatuncertainhandontheredbaizeofthecabidoor.

"mr.utterson，sir，askingtoseeyou，"hecalled;andevenashedidso，oncereviolentlysignedtothelawyertogiveear.

avoiceansweredfromwithin:"tellhimicannotseeanyone，"itsaidplainingly.