CHAPTER XXV. SIMPLE JUSTICE

All eyes were turned upon Mr. Hathaway, who had laid a hand upon the head of his grandchild and was softly stroking her hair. At last he said brokenly, repeating his former assertion: Alla fine disse a fatica, ripetendo la sua precedente affermazione:

"I cannot prove my innocence." "But I can," declared O'Gorman positively, "and I'm going to do it." "No—no!" said Hathaway, startled at his tone. disse Hathaway, sorpreso dal suo tono.

"It's this way, sir," explained the little man in a matter-of-fact voice, "this chase after you has cost the government a heavy sum already, and your prosecution is likely to make public an affair which, under the circumstances, we consider it more diplomatic to hush up. "È così, signore", spiegò l'omino con voce sicura, "questa caccia a lei è già costata al governo una somma ingente, e il suo processo rischia di rendere pubblica una vicenda che, date le circostanze, riteniamo più diplomatico tacere. Any danger to our country has passed, for information obtained ten years ago regarding our defenses, codes, and the like, is to-day worthless because all conditions are completely changed. Ogni pericolo per il nostro Paese è passato, perché le informazioni ottenute dieci anni fa sulle nostre difese, sui codici e simili, oggi sono prive di valore perché le condizioni sono completamente cambiate. Only the crime of treason remains; a crime that deserves the severest punishment; but the guilty persons have escaped punishment and are now facing a higher tribunal— both the principal in the crime and his weak and foolish tool. Rimane solo il reato di tradimento, un reato che merita la pena più severa; ma i colpevoli sono sfuggiti alla punizione e ora si trovano di fronte a un tribunale più alto: sia il mandante del crimine che il suo debole e sciocco strumento. So it is best for all concerned, Mr. Hathaway, that we get at the truth of this matter and, when it is clearly on record in the government files, declare the case closed for all time. Quindi è meglio per tutti gli interessati, signor Hathaway, che si arrivi alla verità di questa faccenda e, quando sarà chiaramente registrata negli archivi del governo, si dichiari il caso chiuso per sempre. The State Department has more important matters that demand its attention." The old man's head was bowed, his chin resting on his breast. Il vecchio aveva la testa china e il mento appoggiato sul petto. It was now the turn of Mary Louise to smooth his thin gray locks. Ora toccava a Mary Louise lisciare le sue sottili ciocche grigie.

"If you will make a statement, sir," continued O'Gorman, "we shall be able to verify it." "Se farà una dichiarazione, signore", continuò O'Gorman, "saremo in grado di verificarla". Slowly Hathaway raised his head.

"I have no statement to make," he persisted. "This is rank folly," exclaimed O'Gorman, "but if you refuse to make the statement, I shall make it myself." "Questa è una vera follia", esclamò O'Gorman, "ma se vi rifiutate di fare la dichiarazione, la farò io stesso". "I beg you—I implore you!" said Hathaway pleadingly.

The detective rose and stood before him, looking not at the old man but at the young girl—Mary Louise.

"Tell me, my child," he said gently, "would you not rather see your grandfather—an honorable, high-minded gentleman—acquitted of an unjust accusation, even at the expense of some abasement and perhaps heart- aches on your part, rather than allow him to continue to suffer disgrace in order to shield you from so slight an affliction?" "Dimmi, figlia mia", disse con dolcezza, "non preferiresti che tuo nonno - un gentiluomo onorevole e di alto lignaggio - venisse assolto da un'accusa ingiusta, anche a costo di qualche abbattimento e forse di qualche dolore al cuore da parte tua, piuttosto che permettere che continui a subire il disonore per proteggere te da un'afflizione così lieve?". "Sir!" cried Hathaway indignantly, starting to his feet; "how dare you throw the burden on this poor child? gridò Hathaway indignato, alzandosi in piedi; "come osi scaricare il peso su questa povera bambina? Have you no mercy—no compassion?" Non avete pietà, non avete compassione?". "Plenty," was the quiet reply. "Molto", fu la risposta tranquilla. "Sit down, sir. This girl is stronger than you think. She will not be made permanently unhappy by knowing the truth, I assure you." Hathaway regarded him with a look of anguish akin to fear. Hathaway lo guardò con uno sguardo di angoscia simile alla paura. Then he turned and seated himself, again putting an arm around Mary Louise as if to shield her.

Said Irene, speaking very slowly:

"I am quite sure Mr. O'Gorman is right. Mary Louise is a brave girl, and she loves her grandfather." Then Mary Louise spoke—hesitatingly, at first, for she could not yet comprehend the full import of the officer's words. Allora Mary Louise parlò, dapprima con esitazione, perché non riusciva ancora a comprendere la piena portata delle parole dell'ufficiale. "If you mean," said she, "that it will cause me sorrow and humiliation to free my grandfather from suspicion, and that he refuses to speak because he fears the truth will hurt me, then I ask you to speak out, Mr. O'Gorman." "Of course," returned the little man, smiling at her approvingly; "that is just what I intend to do. All these years, my girl, your grandfather has accepted reproach and disgrace in order to shield the good name of a woman and to save her from a prison cell. And that woman was your mother." "Oh!" cried Mary Louise and covered her face with her hands.

"You brute!" exclaimed Hathaway, highly incensed. esclamò Hathaway, fortemente incattivito.

"But this is not all," continued O'Gorman, unmoved; "your mother, Mary Louise, would have been condemned and imprisoned—and deservedly so in the eyes of the law—had the truth been known; and yet I assure you she was only guilty of folly and of ignorance of the terrible consequences that might have resulted from her act. "Ma questo non è tutto", continuò O'Gorman, impassibile; "tua madre, Mary Louise, sarebbe stata condannata e imprigionata - e meritatamente agli occhi della legge - se la verità fosse stata conosciuta; eppure ti assicuro che era colpevole solo di follia e di ignoranza delle terribili conseguenze che sarebbero potute derivare dal suo atto. She was weak enough to be loyal to a promise wrung from her in extremity, and therein lay her only fault. Era abbastanza debole da essere fedele a una promessa strappatale in extremis, e in questo risiedeva la sua unica colpa. Your grandfather knew all this, and she was his daughter—his only child. When the accusation for your mother's crime fell on him, he ran away and so tacitly admitted his guilt, thus drawing suspicion from her. His reason for remaining hidden was that, had he been caught and brought to trial, he could not have lied or perjured himself under oath even to save his dearly loved daughter from punishment. Il motivo per cui rimase nascosto era che, se fosse stato catturato e processato, non avrebbe potuto mentire o giurare sotto giuramento nemmeno per salvare la sua amata figlia dalla punizione. Now you understand why he could not submit to arrest; why, assisted by a small but powerful band of faithful friends, he has been able to evade capture during all these years. I admire him for that; but he has sacrificed himself long enough. Your mother's recent death renders her prosecution impossible. La recente morte di sua madre rende impossibile il suo perseguimento. It is time the truth prevailed. In simple justice I will not allow this old man to embitter further his life, just to protect his grandchild from a knowledge of her mother's sin." Per semplice giustizia non permetterò a questo vecchio di inasprire ulteriormente la sua vita, solo per proteggere la nipote dalla conoscenza del peccato della madre". Again a deathly silence pervaded the room.

"You—you are speaking at random," said Hathaway, in a voice choked with emotion. "Lei... lei sta parlando a caso", disse Hathaway, con voce strozzata dall'emozione. "You have no proof of these dreadful statements." "But I have!" said Irene bravely, believing it her duty to support O'Gorman. "And so have I," asserted the quiet voice of Sarah Judd, who had entered the room unperceived. Hathaway regarded both the girls in surprise, but said nothing.

"I think," said Officer O'Gorman, "it will be best for us to read to Mr. Hathaway that letter." "The letter which I found in the book?" asked Irene eagerly. chiese Irene con impazienza.

"Yes. But do not disturb yourself," as she started to wheel her chair close to the wall. "Josie will get it." "Ci penserà Josie". To Irene's astonishment Sarah Judd walked straight to the repeating rifle, opened the sliding plate in its stock and took out the closely folded letter. Perhaps Nan Shelley and Agatha Lord were no less surprised than Irene; also they were deeply chagrined. Forse Nan Shelley e Agatha Lord non erano meno sorprese di Irene; anche loro erano profondamente irritate. But O'Gorman's slip in calling Sarah Judd "Josie" had conveyed to his associates information that somewhat modified their astonishment at the girl's cleverness, for everyone who knew O'Gorman had often heard of his daughter Josie, of whom he was accustomed to speak with infinite pride. Ma il lapsus di O'Gorman nel chiamare Sarah Judd "Josie" aveva trasmesso ai suoi soci un'informazione che modificava in qualche modo il loro stupore per l'intelligenza della ragazza, perché tutti coloro che conoscevano O'Gorman avevano spesso sentito parlare di sua figlia Josie, di cui era solito parlare con infinito orgoglio. He always said he was training her to follow his own profession and that when the education was complete Josie O'Gorman would make a name for herself in the detective service. So Nan and Agatha exchanged meaning glances and regarded the freckled-faced girl with new interest. Nan e Agatha si scambiarono uno sguardo significativo e guardarono la ragazza dal viso lentigginoso con nuovo interesse.

"I'm not much of a reader," said Josie, carefully unfolding the paper. "Non sono una grande lettrice", disse Josie, dispiegando con cura il foglio. "Suppose we let Miss Irene read it?" "E se lo facessimo leggere alla signorina Irene?". Her father nodded assent and Josie handed the sheet to Irene. Il padre fece un cenno di assenso e Josie consegnò il foglio a Irene.

Mr. Hathaway had been growing uneasy and now addressed Officer O'Gorman in a protesting voice: "Is this reading necessary, sir?" "Very necessary, Mr. Hathaway." "What letter is this that you have referred to?" "A bit of information dating nearly ten years ago and written by one who perhaps knew more of the political intrigues of John and Beatrice Burrows than has ever come to your own knowledge." "The letter is authentic, then?" "Quite so." "Proprio così". "And your Department knows of its existence?" "I am acting under the Department's instructions, sir. Oblige us, Miss Macfarlane," he added, turning to Irene, "by reading the letter in full." Ci obblighi, signorina Macfarlane", aggiunse rivolgendosi a Irene, "a leggere la lettera per intero".