Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter XIV
Havishamfoundoutthatherstoryoftheboy’sbeingborninacertainpartofLondonwasfalse;andjustwhentheyallwereinthemidstofthecommotioncausedbythisdiscovery,therecametheletterfromtheyounglawyerinNewYork,andMr.Hobbs’slettersalso.
Whataneveningitwaswhenthoselettersarrived,andwhenMr.HavishamandtheEarlsatandtalkedtheirplansoverinthelibrary!
“Aftermyfirstthreemeetingswithher,”saidMr.Havisham,“Ibegantosuspectherstrongly.Itappearedtomethatthechildwasolderthanshesaidhewas,andshemadeaslipinspeakingofthedateofhisbirthandthentriedtopatchthematterup.Thestorytheselettersbringfitsinwithseveralofmysuspicions.OurbestplanwillbetocableatonceforthesetwoTiptons,—saynothingaboutthemtoher,—andsuddenlyconfrontherwiththemwhensheisnotexpectingit.Sheisonlyaveryclumsyplotter,afterall.Myopinionisthatshewillbefrightenedoutofherwits,andwillbetrayherselfonthespot.”
Andthatwaswhatactuallyhappened.Shewastoldnothing,andMr.Havishamkeptherfromsuspectinganythingbycontinuingtohaveinterviewswithher,inwhichheassuredherhewasinvestigatingherstatements;andshereallybegantofeelsosecurethatherspiritsroseimmenselyandshebegantobeasinsolentasmighthavebeenexpected.
Butonefinemorning,asshesatinhersitting-roomattheinncalled“TheDorincourtArms,”makingsomeveryfineplansforherself,Mr.