within the law-第51部分

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〃To　the　Gallery；〃　Burke　ordered；　curtly。

Garson　went　on　without　ever　a　glance　back。。。。　His　strength　was　at　an　end。

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There　was　a　long　silence　in　the　room　after　Garson's　passing。　　It　was　broken；　at　last；　by　the　Inspector；　who　got　up　from　his　chair；　and　advanced　toward　the　husband　and　wife。　　In　his　hand；　he　carried　a　sheet　of　paper；　roughly　scrawled。　　As　he　stopped　before　the　two；　and　cleared　his　throat；　Mary　withdrew　herself　from　Dick's　arms；　and　regarded　the　official　with　brooding　eyes　from　out　her　white　face。　　Something　strange　in　her　enemy's　expression　caught　her　attention；　something　that　set　new　hopes　alive　within　her　in　a　fashion　wholly　inexplicable；　so　that　she　waited　with　a　sudden；　breathless　eagerness。

Burke　extended　the　sheet　of　paper　to　the　husband。

〃There's　a　document；〃　he　said　gruffly。　　〃It's　a　letter　from　one　Helen　Morris；　in　which　she　sets　forth　the　interesting　fact　that　she　pulled　off　a　theft　in　the　Emporium；　for　which　your　Mrs。　Gilder　here　did　time。　You　know；　your　father　got　your　Mrs。　Gilder　sent　up　for　three　years　for　that　same　jobwhich　she　didn't　do！　That's　why　she　had　such　a　grudge　against　your　father；　and　against　the　law；　too！〃　

Burke　chuckled；　as　the　young　man　took　the　paper；　wonderingly。

〃I　don't　know　that　I　blame　her　much　for　that　grudge；　when　all's　said　and　done。。。。　You　give　that　document　to　your　father。　　It　sets　her　right。　　He's　a　just　man　according　to　his　lights；　your　father。　　He'll　do　all　he　can　to　make　things　right　for　her；　now　he　knows。〃

Once　again；　the　Inspector　paused　to　chuckle。

〃I　guess　she'll　keep　within　the　law　from　now　on；〃　he　continued；　contentedly；　〃without　getting　a　lawyer　to　tell　her　how。。。。　Now；　you　two　listen。　　I've　got　to　go　out　a　minute。　　When　I　get　back；　I　don't　want　to　find　anybody　herenot　anybody！　Do　you　get　me？〃　

He　strode　from　the　room；　fearful　lest　further　delay　might　involve　him　in　sentimental　thanksgivings　from　one　or　the　other；　or　bothand　Burke　hated　sentiment　as　something　distinctly　unprofessional。

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When　the　official　was　gone；　the　two　stood　staring　mutely　each　at　the　other　through　long　seconds。　　What　she　read　in　the　man's　eyes　set　the　woman's　heart　to　beating　with　a　new　delight。　　A　bloom　of　exquisite　rose　grew　in　the　pallor　of　her　cheeks。　　The　misty　light　in　the　violet　eyes　shone　more　radiant；　yet　more　softly。　　The　crimson　lips　curved　to　strange　tenderness。。。。　What　he　read　in　her　eyes　set　the　husband's　pulses　to　bounding。　He　opened　his　arms　in　an　appeal　that　was　a　command。　Mary　went　forward　slowly；　without　hesitation；　in　a　bliss　that　forgot　every　sorrow　for　that　blessed　moment；　and　cast　herself　on　his　breast。





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