第37部分(第6/7 頁)

　showed　magnificent　bracelets　and　earrings；　she　acted　astonishment　and　admiration；　kneeling；　he　laid　the　treasure　at　her　feet；　incredulity　and　delight　were　expressed　by　her　looks　and　gestures；　the　stranger　fastened　the　bracelets　on　her　arms　and　the　rings　in　her　ears。　It　was　Eliezer　and　Rebecca：　the　camels　only　were　wanting。

The　divining　party　again　laid　their　heads　together：　apparently　they　could　not　agree　about　the　word　or　syllable　the　scene　illustrated。　Colonel　Dent；　their　spokesman；　demanded　“the　tableau　of　the　whole；”　whereupon　the　curtain　again　descended。

On　its　third　rising　only　a　portion　of　the　drawing…room　was　disclosed；　the　rest　being　concealed　by　a　screen；　hung　with　some　sort　of　dark　and　coarse　drapery。　The　marble　basin　was　removed；　in　its　place；　stood　a　deal　table　and　a　kitchen　chair：　these　objects　were　visible　by　a　very　dim　light　proceeding　from　a　horn　lantern；　the　wax　candles　being　all　extinguished。

Amidst　this　sordid　scene；　sat　a　man　with　his　clenched　hands　resting　on　his　knees；　and　his　eyes　bent　on　the　ground。　I　knew　Mr。　Rochester；　though　the　begrimed　face；　the　disordered　dress　（his　coat　hanging　loose　from　one　arm；　as　if　it　had　been　almost　torn　from　his　back　in　a　scuffle）；　the　desperate　and　scowling　countenance；　the　rough；　bristling　hair　might　well　have　disguised　him。　As　he　moved；　a　chain　clanked；　to　his　wrists　were　attached　fetters。

“Bridewell！”　exclaimed　Colonel　Dent；　and　the　charade　was　solved。

A　sufficient　interval　having　elapsed　for　the　performers　to　resume　their　ordinary　costume；　they　re…entered　the　dining…room。　Mr。　Rochester　led　in　Miss　Ingram；　she　was　plimenting　him　on　his　acting。

“Do　you　know；”　said　she；　“that；　of　the　three　characters；　I　liked　you　in　the　last　best？　Oh；　had　you　but　lived　a　few　years　earlie