the club of queer trades-第17章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　but　painfully　circular　lawn　stood　two　figures。　One　of　them　was　a　small；　sharp…looking　man　with　black　whiskers　and　a　very　polished　hat　（I　presume　Dr　Colman）；　who　was　talking　very　quietly　and　clearly；　yet　with　a　nervous　twitch；　as　it　were；　in　his　face。　The　other　was　our　old　friend；　listening　with　his　old　forbearing　expression　and　owlish　eyes；　the　strong　sunlight　gleaming　on　his　glasses　as　the　lamplight　had　gleamed　the　night　before；　when　the　boisterous　Basil　had　rallied　him　on　his　studious　decorum。　But　for　one　thing　the　figure　of　this　morning　might　have　been　the　identical　figure　of　last　night。　That　one　thing　was　that　while　the　face　listened　reposefully　the　legs　were　industriously　dancing　like　the　legs　of　a　marionette。　The　neat　flowers　and　the　sunny　glitter　of　the　garden　lent　an　indescribable　sharpness　and　incredibility　to　the　prodigythe　prodigy　of　the　head　of　a　hermit　and　the　legs　of　a　harlequin。　For　miracles　should　always　happen　in　broad　daylight。　The　night　makes　them　credible　and　therefore　commonplace。

The　second　sister　had　by　this　time　entered　the　room　and　came　somewhat　drearily　to　the　window。

〃You　know；　Adelaide；〃　she　said；　〃that　Mr　Bingham　from　the　Museum　is　coming　again　at　three。〃

〃I　know；〃　said　Adelaide　Chadd　bitterly。　〃I　suppose　we　shall　have　to　tell　him　about　this。　I　thought　that　no　good　fortune　would　ever　come　easily　to　us。〃

Grant　suddenly　turned　round。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　said。　〃What　will　you　have　to　tell　Mr　Bingham？〃

〃You　know　what　I　shall　have　to　tell　him；〃　said　the　professor's　sister；　almost　fiercely。　〃I　don't　know　that　we　need　give　it　its　wretched　name。　Do　you　think　that　the　keeper　of　Asiatic　manuscripts　will　be　allowed　to　go　on　like　that？〃　And　she　pointed　for　an　instant　at　the　figure　in　the　garden；　the　shining；　listening　face　and　the　unresting　feet。

Basil　Grant　took　out　his　watch　with　an　abrupt　movement。　〃When　did　you　say　the　British　Museum　man　was　coming？〃　he　said。

〃Three　o'clock；〃　said　Miss　Chadd　briefly。

〃Then　I　have　an　hour　before　me；〃　said　Grant；　and　without　another　word　threw　up　the　window　and　jumped　out　into　the　garden。　He　did　not　walk　straight　up　to　the　doctor　and　lunatic；　but　strolling　round　the　garden　path　drew　near　them　cautiously　and　yet　apparently　carelessly。　He　stood　a　couple　of　feet　off　them；　seemingly　counting　halfpence　out　of　his　trousers　pocket；　but；　as　I　could　see；　looking　up　steadily　under　the　broad　brim　of　his　hat。

Suddenly　he　stepped　up　to　Professor　Chadd's　elbow；　and　said；　in　a　loud　familiar　voice；　〃Well；　my　boy；　do　you　still　think　the　Zulus　our　inferiors？〃

The　doctor　knitted　his　brows　and　looked　anxious；　seeming　to　be　about　to　speak。　The　professor　turned　his　bald　and　placid　head　towards　Grant　in　a　friendly　manner；　but　made　no　answer；　idly　flinging　his　left　leg　about。

〃Have　you　converted　Dr　Colman　to　your　views？〃　Basil　continued；　still　in　the　same　loud　and　lucid　tone。

Chadd　only　shuffled　his　feet　and　kicked　a　little　with　the　other　leg；　his　expression　still　benevolent　and　inquiring。　The　doctor　cut　in　rather　sharply。　〃Shall　we　go　inside；　professor？〃　he　said。　〃Now　you　have　shown　me　the　garden。　A　beautiful　garden。　A　most　beautiful　garden。　Let　us　go　in；〃　and　he　tried　to　draw　the　kicking　ethnologist　by　the　elbow；　at　the　same　time　whispering　to　Grant：　〃I　must　ask　you　not　to　trouble　him　with　questions。　Most　risky。　He　must　be　soothed。〃

Basil　answered　in　the　same　tone；　with　great　coolness：

〃Of　course　your　directions　must　be　followed　out；　doctor。　I　will　endeavour　to　do　so；　but　I　hope　it　will　not　be　inconsistent　with　them　if　you　will　leave　me　alone　with　my　poor　friend　in　this　garden　for　an　hour。　I　want　to　watch　him。　I　assure　you；　Dr　Colman；　that　I　shall　say　very　little　to　him；　and　that　little　shall　be　as　soothing　asas　syrup。〃

The　doctor　wiped　his　eyeglass　thoughtfully。

〃It　is　rather　dangerous　for　him；〃　he　said；　〃to　be　long　in　the　strong　sun　without　his　hat。　With　his　bald　head；　too。〃

〃That　is　soon　settled；〃　said　Basil　composedly；　and　took　off　his　own　big　hat　and　clapped　it　on　the　egglike　skull　of　the　professor。　The　latter　did　not　turn　round　but　danced　away　with　his　eyes　on　the　horizon。

The　doctor　put　on　his　glasses　again；　looked　severely　at　the　two　for　some　seconds；　with　his　head　on　one　side　like　a　bird's；　and　then　saying；　shortly；　〃All　right；〃　strutted　away　into　the　house；　where　the　three　Misses　Chadd　were　all　looking　out　from　the　parlour　window　on　to　the　garden。　They　looked　out　on　it　with　hungry　eyes　for　a　full　hour　without　moving；　and　they　saw　a　sight　which　was　more　extraordinary　than　madness　itself。

Basil　Grant　addressed　a　few　questions　to　the　madman；　without　succeeding　in　making　him　do　anything　but　continue　to　caper；　and　when　he　had　done　this　slowly　took　a　red　note…book　out　of　one　pocket　and　a　large　pencil　out　of　another。

He　began　hurriedly　to　scribble　notes。　When　the　lunatic　skipped　away　from　him　he　would　walk　a　few　yards　in　pursuit；　stop；　and　make　notes　again。　Thus　they　followed　each　other　round　and　round　the　foolish　circle　of　turf；　the　one　writing　in　pencil　with　the　face　of　a　man　working　out　a　problem；　the　other　leaping　and　playing　like　a　child。

After　about　three…quarters　of　an　hour　of　this　imbecile　scene；　Grant　put　the　pencil　in　his　pocket；　but　kept　the　note…book　open　in　his　hand；　and　walking　round　the　mad　professor；　planted　himself　directly　in　front　of　him。

Then　occurred　something　that　even　those　already　used　to　that　wild　morning　had　not　anticipated　or　dreamed。　The　professor；　on　finding　Basil　in　front　of　him；　stared　with　a　blank　benignity　for　a　few　seconds；　and　then　drew　up　his　left　leg　and　hung　it　bent　in　the　attitude　that　his　sister　had　described　as　being　the　first　of　all　his　antics。　And　the　moment　he　had　done　it　Basil　Grant　lifted　his　own　leg　and　held　it　out　rigid　before　him；　confronting　Chadd　with　the　flat　sole　of　his　boot。　The　professor　dropped　his　bent　leg；　and　swinging　his　weight　on　to　it　kicked　out　the　other　behind；　like　a　man　swimming。　Basil　crossed　his　feet　like　a　saltire　cross；　and　then　flung　them　apart　again；　giving　a　leap　into　the　air。　Then　before　any　of　the　spectators　could　say　a　word　or　even　entertain　a　thought　about　the　matter；　both　of　them　were　dancing　a　sort　of　jig　or　hornpipe　opposite　each　other；　and　the　sun　shone　down　on　two　madmen　instead　of　one。

They　were　so　stricken　with　the　deafness　and　blindness　of　monomania　that　they　did　not　see　the　eldest　Miss　Chadd　come　out　feverishly　into　the　garden　with　gestures　of　entreaty；　a　gentleman　following　her。　Professor　Chadd　was　in　the　wildest　posture　of　a　pas…de…quatre；　Basil　Grant　seemed　about　to　turn　a　cart…wheel；　when　they　were　frozen　in　their　follies　by　the　steely　voice　of　Adelaide　Chadd　saying；　〃Mr　Bingham　of　the　British　Museum。〃

Mr　Bingham　was　a　slim；　well…clad　gentleman　with　a　pointed　and　slightly　effeminate　grey　beard；　unimpeachable　gloves；　and　formal　but　agreeable　manners。　He　was　the　type　of　the　over…civilized；　as　Professor　Chadd　was　of　the　uncivilized　pedant。　His　formality　and　agreeableness　did　him　some　credit　under　the　circumstances。　He　had　a　vast　experience　of　books　and　a　considerable　experience　of　the　more　dilettante　fashionable　salons。　But　neither　branch　of　knowledge　had　accustomed　him　to　the　spectacle　of　two　grey…haired　middle…class　gentlemen　in　modern　costume　throwing　themselves　about　like　acrobats　as　a　substitute　for　an　after…dinner　nap。

The　professor　continued　his　antics　with　perfect　placidity；　but　Grant　stopped　abruptly。　The　doctor　had　reappeared　on　the　scene；　and　his　shiny　black　eyes；　under　his　shiny　black　hat；　moved　restlessly　from　one　of　them　to　the　other。

〃Dr　Colman；〃　said　Basil；　turning　to　him；　〃will　you　entertain　Professor　Chadd　again　for　a　little　while？　I　am　sure　that　he　needs　you。　Mr　Bingham；　might　I　have　the　pleasure　of　a　few　moments'　private　conversation？　My　name　is　Grant。〃

Mr　Bingham；　of　the　British　Museum；　bowed　in　a　manner　that　was　respectful　but　a　trifle　bewildered。

〃Miss　Chadd　will　excuse　me；〃　continued　Basil　easily；　〃if　I　know　my　way　about　the　house。〃　And　he　led　the　dazed　librarian　rapidly　through　the　back　door　into　the　parlour。

〃Mr　Bingham；〃　said　Basil；　setting　a　chair　for　him；　〃I　imagine　that　Miss　Chadd　has　told　you　of　this　distressing　occurrence。〃

〃She　has；　Mr　Grant；〃　said　Bingham；　looking　at　the　table　with　a　sort　of　compassionate　nervousness。　〃I　am　more　pained　than　I　can　say　by　this　dreadful　calamity。　It　seems　quite　heart…rending　that　the　thing　should　have　happened　just　as　we　have　decided　to　give　your　eminent　friend　a　position　which　falls　far　short　of　his　merits。　As　it　is；　of　coursereally；　I　don't　know　what　to　say。　Professor　Chadd　may；　of　course；　retainI　sincerely　trust　he　willhis　extraordinarily　valuable　intellect。　But　I　am　afraidI　am　really　afraidthat　it　would　not　do　to　have　the　curator　of　the　Asiatic　manuscriptserdancing　about。〃

〃I　have　a　suggestion　to　make；〃　said　Basil；　and　sat　down　abruptly　in　his　chair；　drawing　it　up　to　the　table。

〃I　am　delighted；　of　course；〃　said　the　gentleman　from　the　British　Museum；　coughing　and　drawing　up　his　chair　also。

The　clock　on　the　mantelpiece　ticked　for　just　the　moments　required　for　Basil　to　clear　his　throat　and　collect　his　words；　and　then　he　said：

〃My　proposal　is　this。　I　do　not　know　that　in　the　strict　use　of　words　you　could　altogether　call　it　a　compromise；　still　it　has　something　of　that　character。　My　proposal　is　that　the　Government　（acting；　as　I　presume；　through　your　Museum）　should　pay　Professor　Chadd　L800　a　year　until　he　stops　dancing。〃

〃Eight　hundred　a　year！〃　said　Mr　Bingham；　and　for　the　first　time　lifted　his　mild　blue　eyes　to　those　of　his　interlocutorand　he　raised　them　with　a　mild　blue　stare。　〃I　think　I　have　not　quite　understood　you。　Did　I　understand　you　to　say　that　Professor　Chadd　ought　to　be　employed；　in　his　present　state；　in　the　Asiatic　manuscript　department　at　eight　hundred　a　year？〃

Grant　shook　his　head　resolutely。

〃No；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃No。　Chadd　is　a　friend　of　mine；　and　I　would　say　anything　for　him　I　could。　But　I　do　not　say；　I　cannot　say；　that　he　ought　to　take　on　the　Asiatic　manuscripts。　I　do　not　go　so　far　as　that。　I　merely　say　that　until　he　stops　dancing　you　ought　to　pay　him　L800　Surely　you　have　some　general　fund　for　the　endowment　of　research。〃

Mr　Bingham　looked　bewildered。

〃I　really　don't　know；〃　he　said；　blinking　his　eyes；　〃what　you　are　talking　about。　Do　you　ask　us　to　give　this　obvious　lunatic　nearly　a　thousand　a　year　for　life？〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　cried　Basil；　keenly　and　triumphantly。　〃I　never　said　for　life。　Not　at　all。〃

〃What　for；　then？〃　asked　the　meek　Bingham；　suppressing　an　instinct　meekly　to　tear　his　hair。　〃How　long　is　this　endowment　to　run？　Not　till　his　death？　Till　the　Judgement　day？〃

〃No；〃　said　Basil；　beaming；　〃but　just　what　I　said。　Till　he　has　stopped　dancing。〃　And　he　lay　back　with　satisfaction　and　his　hands　in　his　pockets。

Bingham　had　by　this　time　fastened　his　eyes　keenly　on　Basil　Grant　and　kept　them　there。

〃Come；　Mr　Grant；〃　he　said。　〃Do　I　seriously　understand　you　to　suggest　that　the　Government　pay　Professor　Chadd　an　extraordinarily　high　salary　simply　on　the　ground　that　he　has　（pardon　the　phrase）　gone　mad？　That　he　should　be　paid　more　than　four　good　clerks　solely　on　the　ground　that　he　is　flinging　his　boots　about　in　the　back　yard？〃

〃Precisely；〃　said　Grant　composedly。

〃That　this　absurd　payment　is　not　only　to　run　on　with　the　absurd　dan