Chapter 14　The Exposure

It is astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen. It had taken only a few minutes, apparently, to change all the fortunes of the little boy dangling his red legs from the high stool in Mr. Hobbs's store, and to transform him from a small boy, living the simplest life in a quiet street, into an English nobleman, the heir to an earldom and magnificent wealth. It had taken only a few minutes, apparently, to change him from an English nobleman into a penniless little impostor, with no right to any of the splendors he had been enjoying. And, surprising as it may appear, it did not take nearly so long a time as one might have expected, to alter the face of everything again and to give back to him all that he had been in danger of losing.

It took the less time because, after all, the woman who had called herself Lady Fauntleroy was not nearly so clever as she was wicked; and when she had been closely pressed by Mr. Havisham's questions about her marriage and her boy, she had made one or two blunders which had caused suspicion to be awakened; and then she had lost her presence of mind and her temper, and in her excitement and anger had betrayed herself still further. All the mistakes she made were about her child. There seemed no doubt that she had been married to Bevis, Lord Fauntleroy, and had quarreled with him and had been paid to keep away from him; but Mr. Havisham found out that her story of the boy's being born in a certain part of London was false; and just when they all were in the midst of the commotion caused by this discovery, there came the letter from the young lawyer in New York, and Mr. Hobbs's letters also.

What an evening it was when those letters arrived, and when Mr. Havisham and the Earl sat and talked their plans over in the library!

After my first three meetings with her, said Mr. Havisham, "I began to suspect her strongly. It appeared to me that the child was older than she said he was, and she made a slip in speaking of the date of his birth and then tried to patch the matter up. The story these letters bring fits in with several of my suspicions. Our best plan will be to cable at once for these two Tiptons,—say nothing about them to her,—and suddenly confront her with them when she is not expecting it. She is only a very clumsy plotter, after all. My opinion is that she will be frightened out of her wits, and will betray herself on the spot."

And that was what actually happened. She was told nothing, and Mr. Havisham kept her from suspecting anything by continuing to have interviews with her, in which he assured her he was investigating her statements; and she really began to feel so secure that her spirits rose immensely and she began to be as insolent as might have been expected.

But one fine morning, as she sat in her sitting-room at the inn called "The Dorincourt Arms," making some very fine plans for herself, Mr. Havisham was announced; and when he entered, he was followed by no less than three persons—one was a sharp-faced boy and one was a big young man and the third was the Earl of Dorincourt.

She sprang to her feet and actually uttered a cry of terror. It broke from her before she had time to check it. She had thought of these new-comers as being thousands of miles away, when she had ever thought of them at all, which she had scarcely done for years. She had never expected to see them again. It must be confessed that Dick grinned a little when he saw her.

Hello, Minna! he said.

The big young man—who was Ben—stood still a minute and looked at her.

Do you know her? Mr. Havisham asked, glancing from one to the other.

Yes, said Ben. "I know her and she knows me." And he turned his back on her and went and stood looking out of the window, as if the sight of her was hateful to him, as indeed it was. Then the woman, seeing herself so baffled and exposed, lost all control over herself and flew into such a rage as Ben and Dick had often seen her in before. Dick grinned a trifle more as he watched her and heard the names she called them all and the violent threats she made, but Ben did not turn to look at her.

I can swear to her in any court, he said to Mr. Havisham, "and I can bring a dozen others who will. Her father is a respectable sort of man, though he's low down in the world. Her mother was just like herself. She's dead, but he's alive, and he's honest enough to be ashamed of her. He'll tell you who she is, and whether she married me or not."

Then he clenched his hand suddenly and turned on her.

Where's the child? he demanded. "He's going with me! He is done with you, and so am I!"

And just as he finished saying the words, the door leading into the bedroom opened a little, and the boy, probably attracted by the sound of the loud voices, looked in. He was not a handsome boy, but he had rather a nice face, and he was quite like Ben, his father, as any one could see, and there was the three-cornered scar on his chin.

Ben walked up to him and took his hand, and his own was trembling.

Yes, he said, "I could swear to him, too. Tom," he said to the little fellow, "I'm your father; I've come to take you away. Where's your hat?"

The boy pointed to where it lay on a chair. It evidently rather pleased him to hear that he was going away. He had been so accustomed to queer experiences that it did not surprise him to be told by a stranger that he was his father. He objected so much to the woman who had come a few months before to the place where he had lived since his babyhood, and who had suddenly announced that she was his mother, that he was quite ready for a change. Ben took up the hat and marched to the door.

If you want me again, he said to Mr. Havisham,"you know where to find me."

He walked out of the room, holding the child's hand and not looking at the woman once. She was fairly raving with fury, and the Earl was calmly gazing at her through his eyeglasses, which he had quietly placed upon his aristocratic, eagle nose.

Come, come, my young woman, said Mr. Havisham. "This won't do at all. If you don't want to be locked up, you really must behave yourself."

And there was something so very business-like in his tones that, probably feeling that the safest thing she could do would be to get out of the way, she gave him one savage look and dashed past him into the next room and slammed the door.

We shall have no more trouble with her, said Mr. Havisham.

And he was right; for that very night she left the Dorincourt Arms and took the train to London, and was seen no more.

When the Earl left the room after the interview, he went at once to his carriage.

To Court Lodge, he said to Thomas.

To Court Lodge, said Thomas to the coachman as he mounted the box; "an' you may depend on it, things are taking a uniggspected turn."

When the carriage stopped at Court Lodge, Cedric was in the drawingroom with his mother.

The Earl came in without being announced. He looked an inch or so taller, and a great many years younger. His deep eyes flashed.

Where, he said, "is Lord Fauntleroy?"

Mrs. Errol came forward, a flush rising to her cheek.

Is it Lord Fauntleroy? she asked. "Is it, indeed!"

The Earl put out his hand and grasped hers.

Yes, he answered, "it is."

Then he put his other hand on Cedric's shoulder.

Fauntleroy, he said in his unceremonious, authoritative way, "ask your mother when she will come to us at the Castle."

Fauntleroy flung his arms around his mother's neck.

To live with us! he cried. "To live with us always!"

The Earl looked at Mrs. Errol, and Mrs. Errol looked at the Earl.

His lordship was entirely in earnest. He had made up his mind to waste no time in arranging this matter. He had begun to think it would suit him to make friends with his heir's mother.

Are you quite sure you want me? said Mrs. Errol, with her soft, pretty smile.

Quite sure, he said bluntly. "We have always wanted you, but we were not exactly aware of it. We hope you will come."

第十四章　真相大白

让人大为吃惊的是，在很短的时间内，非常奇妙的事情发生了。在霍布斯先生的杂货店里，那个小男孩坐在一只高凳子上，两条穿着红色裤子的小腿悬空着，仅仅在几分钟时间内，他的整个运气就翻了个个儿。他本来住在一条安宁的街道上，过着简朴的生活，突然变成了英国贵族，伯爵的继承人，拥有万贯家财。也仅仅在几分钟时间内，他又从英国贵族变回到了一个身无分文的小骗子，对他已经享受过了一段时间的荣华富贵，不再有任何权利。让人感到奇怪的是，他可能几乎没有足够的时间，来再一次预料这一切的变化，哪怕是表面的变化，他也预料不及。经历了一场危险，那失去的一切，重新又还给了他。

事情变化的时间之所以如此之短，是因为那个自称为方特勒罗伊夫人的女人，她的聪明远远比不上她的丑恶。当她受到哈维沙姆先生的详细盘问，回答有关她的婚姻和孩子的问题时，她犯了一两个大错误，这使哈维沙姆先生顿生怀疑。随后，她失去了正常的心态，脾气也变得暴躁起来，由于兴奋和生气，她更多地把自己给供出来了。她犯的所有错误都是有关她的孩子的。她曾经嫁给贝维斯，即方特勒罗伊勋爵，而且老是跟他吵架，最后拿了他的钱，不再去纠缠他，这似乎是没有疑问的。但是，她说孩子出生在伦敦的某个区域，哈维沙姆先生查明后现发，这不符合事实。就在他们因为这一发现而引起混乱之际，纽约那个年轻律师的信到了，霍布斯先生的信也到了。

接到那些信后，哈维沙姆先生和伯爵坐在书房里，密谋着他们的计划。那是怎么样的一个夜晚啊！

“头三次跟她见面后，”哈维沙姆先生说，“我就开始强烈地怀疑她。在我看来，那孩子似乎比她所说的要大一些。说到孩子的出生年月，她伪造了一张证件，随后又企图弥补其中的漏洞。这些信中所讲的事正好符合我的几个疑点。咱们最好的计划是——马上给这两个蒂普顿发海底电报，先不要对她谈起任何他们俩的事，趁她不备的时候，突然之间让她跟他们俩当面对质。她充其量只是一个非常愚笨的阴谋者罢了。我想，由于事先没有防备，她会被吓傻，会当场招供的。”

实际情况正是那样发生的。哈维沙姆先生没有向她泄露任何秘密，他通过不断地跟她面谈，使她确信他正在调查她的陈述，这避免了她的任何怀疑。她真的开始感到万无一失了，因此精神高涨，并且正如人们所能预料到的，她开始变得目空一切。

但是，一个晴朗的上午，当她正坐在起居室里，为自己制订着美妙无比的计划时，仆人通报说，哈维沙姆先生来了。当哈维沙姆先生走进房间时，他身后跟着至少三个人，一个是脸庞轮廓分明的少年，一个是高大的年轻人，第三个是多林考特伯爵。

她弹跳起来，发出了一声恐慌的叫喊。她还没来得及控制自己就喊出来了。几年来，她极少想起眼前这两个突然到来的人，一旦想起来，也觉得他们远在千里之外。她从未料到她会再次见到他们。必须承认的是，当迪克看见她的时候，露齿笑了一下。

“你好，明娜！”他说。

那个大个子年轻人——就是本——静静地站了一会儿，看着她。

“你认识她吗？”哈维沙姆先生问道，他的目光从本转向了明娜。

“是的。”本说，“我认识她，她也认识我。”他转身背对着她，走到窗前，站在那儿，望着窗外，就好像看见她都使他感到恶心似的，事实上他确实感到了恶心。随后，那女人明白了，自己的阴谋未能得逞，反而真相暴露了。她失去了控制，突然暴怒起来，本和迪克以前经常看见她暴怒的样子。当迪克看着她，听见她一一喊出他们的名字，还蛮横地威胁他们时，他笑得更开心了，而本则没有转回身来看她。

“我可以在任何一个法庭里对着她发誓，”本对哈维沙姆先生说，“我还可以带来一打愿意发誓的人。她父亲虽然生活在社会底层，但是一个受人尊敬的人。她母亲跟她一模一样，不过已经死了，但她父亲还活着，他非常诚实，会为她感到耻辱的。他会告诉您她是谁，以及她是否曾经跟我结过婚。”

随后，突然他的一只手紧握着，转向她。

“孩子在哪里？”他问道，“他得跟我在一起！跟你在一起，他会被你毁掉的，就像我被你毁掉一样！”

他刚刚说完这几句话，通向卧室的门开了一条缝。也许是被起居室里大声的说话吸引住了，一个男孩探头朝里望着。他长得并不漂亮，但是五官很端正。他很像他的父亲——本，这是任何人都能看出来的。他的下巴上果然有一处三角形的伤疤。

本急忙向孩子走去，抓起他的手。他自己的手颤抖着。

“是的，”他说，“我还可以对着他发誓。”他对孩子说，“我是你爸爸，汤姆，我是来接你走的。你的帽子呢？”

小男孩指着一把椅子，帽子就在上面。一听说他可以离开了，他明显露出了高兴的神情。他已经对奇怪的经历习以为常了，以至于一个陌生人自称是他父亲时，他都没有感到惊讶。几个月前，一个女人来到他的出生地（他从婴儿时代起就一直住在那儿），突然宣称是他母亲。他对她很是反感，心里一直在盼望转机的出现。这时，本拿起帽子，走到门口。

“如果你还需要我做什么事，”他对哈维沙姆先生说，“你知道在哪儿可以找到我。”

他抓着孩子的手，走出了房间，一眼都不看那个女人。她已经狂怒得有点疯疯癫癫了。伯爵透过眼镜，平静地盯着她。刚才，他悄悄地在他那贵族气息的鹰钩鼻上，戴上了眼镜。

“来，来，年轻的女人，”哈维沙姆先生说，“你这样做是没一点儿用的。如果你不想被监禁起来，就得举止规矩点儿。”

他用了一种非常公事公办的语调，这使她可能感觉到了，她所能做的最最安全的事，就是逃跑。她蛮横地瞪了他一眼，闪身经过他，跑进了隔壁房间，砰地关上了门。

“她再也不会麻烦我们了。”哈维沙姆先生说。

他说得对，就在那天晚上，她离开了多林考特阿姆斯，乘火车到了伦敦，从此不知所终。

面谈结束后，伯爵就离开了房间，立即走向马车。

“去罗奇苑。”他对托马斯说。

“去罗奇苑。”当托马斯爬上车厢时，他对车夫说，“事情发生了意料不到的转折。”

当马车停在罗奇苑时，塞德里克正在客厅里，跟他母亲待在一起呢。

伯爵走了进来，没有被发现。他看上去又高了一英寸左右，而且年轻了好多岁。他深陷的眼睛闪闪放光。

“方特勒罗伊勋爵，”他问道，“在哪里？”

埃罗尔夫人走上前来，她的脸颊上升起了一朵红晕。“他还是方特勒罗伊勋爵吗？”她问道，“是真的吗？”伯爵伸出了手，紧紧抓住她的手。

“是的，”他说，“他还是勋爵。”

然后，他把另一只手放在方特勒罗伊的肩膀上。

“方特勒罗伊，”他以他那随意的、权威性的语气说，“问问你母亲，她什么时候到城堡来看我们？”

方特勒罗伊用胳膊环抱着母亲的脖子。

“跟我们住在一起吧！”他喊道，“永远跟我们住在一起！”

伯爵看着埃罗尔夫人，埃罗尔夫人也看着伯爵。

老伯爵的神情极为认真。他已下定决心，马上安排这事。他开始想，跟他的继承人的母亲交个朋友，是很适宜的。

“您确实需要我住到城堡里去吗？”埃罗尔夫人温柔地、甜美地微笑着说。

“当然啦！”伯爵率直地说，“我们一直是需要你的，只是我们没有完全意识到这一点。我们希望你来城堡。”