第42部分(第6/7 页)

d　closed　the　door　behind　him。

“Here；　Jane！”　he　said；　and　I　walked　round　to　the　other　side　of　a　large　bed；　which　with　its　drawn　curtains　concealed　a　considerable　portion　of　the　chamber。　An　easy…chair　was　near　the　bed…head：　a　man　sat　in　it；　dressed　with　the　exception　of　his　coat；　he　was　still；　his　head　leant　back；　his　eyes　were　closed。　Mr。　Rochester　held　the　candle　over　him；　I　recognised　in　his　pale　and　seemingly　lifeless　face—the　stranger；　Mason：　I　saw　too　that　his　linen　on　one　side；　and　one　arm；　was　almost　soaked　in　blood。

“Hold　the　candle；”　said　Mr。　Rochester；　and　I　took　it：　he　fetched　a　basin　of　water　from　the　washstand：　“Hold　that；”　said　he。　I　obeyed。　He　took　the　sponge；　dipped　it　in；　and　moistened　the　corpse…like　face；　he　asked　for　my　smelling…bottle；　and　applied　it　to　the　nostrils。　Mr。　Mason　shortly　unclosed　his　eyes；　he　groaned。　Mr。　Rochester　opened　the　shirt　of　the　wounded　man；　whose　arm　and　shoulder　were　bandaged：　he　sponged　away　blood；　trickling　fast　down。

“Is　there　immediate　danger？”　murmured　Mr。　Mason。

“Pooh！　No—a　mere　scratch。　Don’t　be　so　overe；　man：　bear　up！　I’ll　fetch　a　surgeon　for　you　now；　myself：　you’ll　be　able　to　be　removed　by　morning；　I　hope。　Jane；”　he　continued。

“Sir？”

“I　shall　have　to　leave　you　in　this　room　with　this　gentleman；　for　an　hour；　or　perhaps　two　hours：　you　will　sponge　the　blood　as　I　do　when　it　returns：　if　he　feels　faint；　you　will　put　the　glass　of　water　on　that　stand　to　his　lips；　and　your　salts　to　his　nose。　You　will　not　speak　to　him　on　any　pretext—and—Richard；　it　will　be　at　the　peril　of　your　life　if　you　speak　to　her：　open　your　lips—agitate　yourself—and　I’ll　not　answer　for　the　consequences。”

Again　the　poor　man　groaned；　he　looked　as　if　he　dared　not　move；　fear；　either　of　death　or　of　something　els