下载辰思小说免费APP
wondered。And，aboveall，howhadhecometohaveadaggerreadyinhishand？Adagger，orevenasharpknife，seemedoutofkeepingwiththeageinwhichwelived；andagentlemanlandingfromhisyachtontheshoreofhisownestate，evenalthoughitwasatnightandwithsomemysteriouscircumstances，doesnotusually，asamatteroffact，walkthuspreparedfordeadlyonslaught。ThemoreIreflected，thefurtherIfeltatsea。Irecapitulatedtheelementsofmystery，countingthemonmyfingers:thepavilionsecretlypreparedforguests；theguestslandedattheriskoftheirlivesandtotheimminentperiloftheyacht；theguests，oratleastoneofthem，inundisguisedandseeminglycauselessterror；Northmourwithanakedweapon；Northmourstabbinghismostintimateacquaintanceataword；last，andnotleaststrange，Northmourfleeingfromthemanwhomhehadsoughttomurder，andbarricadinghimself，likeahuntedcreature，behindthedoorofthepavilion。Herewereatleastsixseparatecausesforextremesurprise；eachpartandparcelwiththeothers，andformingalltogetheroneconsistentstory。Ifeltalmostashamedtobelievemyownsenses。
AsIthusstood，transfixedwithwonder，IbegantogrowpainfullyconsciousoftheinjuriesIhadreceivedinthescuffle；skulkedroundamongthesandhills；and，byadeviouspath，regainedtheshelterofthewood。Ontheway，theoldnursepassedagainwithinseveralyardsofme，stillcarryingherlantern，onthereturnjourneytothemansionhouseofGraden。Thismadeaseventhsuspiciousfeatureinthecase。Northmourandhisguests，itappeared，weretocookanddothecleaningforthemselves，whiletheoldwomancontinuedtoinhabitthebigemptybarrackamongthepolicies。Theremustsurelybegreatcauseforsecrecy，whensomanyinconvenienceswereconfrontedtopreserveit。
Sothinking，Imademywaytotheden。Forgreatersecurity，I
trodouttheembersofthefire，andlightedmylanterntoexaminethewounduponmyshoulder。Itwasatriflinghurt，althoughitbledsomewhatfreely，andIdresseditaswellasIcould(foritspositionmadeitdifficulttoreach)withsomeragandcoldwaterfromthespring。WhileIwasthusbusied，ImentallydeclaredwaragainstNorthmourandhismystery。Iamnotanangrymanbynature，andIbelievetherewasmorecuriositythanresentmentinmyheart。ButwarIcertainlydeclared；and，bywayofpreparation，Igotoutmyrevolver，and，havingdrawnthecharges，cleanedandreloadeditwithscrupulouscare。NextIbecamepreoccupiedaboutmyhorse。Itmightbreakloose，orfalltoneighing，andsobetraymycampintheSea-Wood。Ideterminedtoridmyselfofitsneighborhood；andlongbeforedawnIwasleadingitoverthelinksinthedirectionofthefishervillage。
FortwodaysIskulkedroundthepavilion，profitingbytheunevensurfaceofthelinks。Ibecameanadeptinthenecessarytactics。
Theselowhillocksandshallowdells，runningoneintoanother，becameakindofcloakofdarknessformyinthralling，butperhapsdishonorable，pursuit。
Yet，inspiteofthisadvantage，IcouldlearnbutlittleofNorthmourorhisguests。
Freshprovisionswerebroughtundercoverofdarknessbytheoldwomanfromthemansionhouse。Northmour，andtheyounglady，sometimestogether，butmoreoftensingly，wouldwalkforanhourortwoatatimeonthebeachbesidethequicksand。Icouldnotbutconcludethatthispromenadewaschosenwithaneyetosecrecy；
forthespotwasopenonlytoseaward。Butitsuitedmenotlessexcellently；thehighestandmostaccidentedofthesandhillsimmediatelyadjoined；andfromthese，lyingflatinahollow，I
couldoverlookNorthmourortheyoungladyastheywalked。
Thetallmanseemedtohavedisappeared。Notonlydidhenevercrossthethreshold，butheneversomuchasshowedfaceatawindow；or，atleast，notsofarasIcouldsee；forIdarednotcreepforwardbeyondacertaindistanceintheday，sincetheupperfloorscommandedthebottomsofthelinks；andatnight，whenI
couldventurefurther，thelowerwindowswerebarricadedasiftostandasiege。SometimesIthoughtthetallmanmustbeconfinedtobed，forIrememberedthefeeblenessofhisgait；andsometimesIthoughthemusthavegoneclearaway，andthatNorthmourandtheyoungladyremainedalonetogetherinthepavilion。Theide
后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节
