|
||||||||
Hardly, was the answer. I have called it insuperable, and I speak advisedly. The speaker came forward and leaned on the rails. He continued, uttering each word distinctly, calmly, steadily, but not loudly It simply consists in the existence of a previous marriage. Mr. Rochester has a wife now living. My nerves vibrated to those low-spoken words as they had never vibrated to thundermy blood felt their subtle violence as it had never felt frost or fire; but I was collected, and in no danger of swooning. I looked at Mr. Rochester: I made him look at me. His whole face was colourless rock: his eye was both spark and flint. He disavowed nothing: he seemed as if he would defy all things. Without speaking, without smiling, without seeming to recognise in me a human being, he only twined my waist with his arm and riveted me to his side. Who are you? he asked of the intruder. My name is Briggs, a solicitor ofStreet, London. And you would thrust on me a wife? I would remind you of your ladys existence, sir, which the law recognises, if you do not. Favour me with an account of herwith her name, her parentage, her place of abode. Certainly. Mr. Briggs calmly took a paper from his pocket, and read out in a sort of official, nasal voice: I affirm and can prove that on the 20th of October A.D.(a date of fifteen years back), Edward Fairfax Rochester, of Thornfield Hall, in the county of , and of Ferndean Manor, inshire, England, was married to my sister, Bertha Antoinetta Mason, daughter of Jonas Mason, merchant, and of Antoinetta his wife, a Creole, atchurch, Spanish Town, Jamaica. The record of the marriage will be found in the register of that churcha copy of it is now in my possession. Signed, Richard Mason. Thatif a genuine documentmay prove I have been married, but it does not prove that the woman mentioned therein as my wife is still living. She was living three months ago, returned the lawyer. How do you know? I have a witness to the fact, whose testimony even you, sir, will scarcely controvert. Produce himor go to hell. I will produce him firsthe is on the spot. Mr. Mason, have the goodness to step forward. Mr. Rochester, on hearing the name, set his teeth; he experienced, too, a sort of strong convulsive quiver; near to him as I was, I felt the spasmodic movement of fury or despair run through his frame. The second stranger, who had hitherto lingered in the background, now drew near; a pale face looked over the solicitors shoulderyes, it was Mason himself. Mr. Rochester turned and glared at him. His eye, as I have often said, was a black eye: it had now a tawny, nay, a bloody light in its gloom; and his face flushedolive cheek and hueless forehead received a glow as from spreading, ascending heart-fire: and he stirred, lifted his strong armhe could have struck Mason, dashed him on the church-floor, shocked by ruthless blow the breath from his bodybut Mason shrank away, and cried faintly, Good God! Contempt fell cool on Mr. Rochesterhis passion died as if a blight had shrivelled it up: he only askedWhat have you to say? |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||