the lazy tour of two idle apprentices(两个闲荡徒弟的旅行)-第8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！
entrance from the street。 The men were all listening to one other man；
better dressed than the rest； who was telling his audience something； in a
low voice； in which they were apparently very much interested。
On entering the passage； Arthur was passed by a stranger with a
knapsack in his hand； who was evidently leaving the house。
'No；' said the traveller with the knapsack； turning round and addressing
himself cheerfully to a fat； sly…looking； bald…headed man； with a dirty
white apron on； who had followed him down the passage。 'No； Mr。
landlord； I am not easily scared by trifles； but； I don't mind confessing that
I can't quite stand THAT。'
It occurred to young Holliday； the moment he heard these words； that
the stranger had been asked an exorbitant price for a bed at The Two
Robins； and that he was unable or unwilling to pay it。 The moment his
back was turned； Arthur； comfortably conscious of his own well…filled
pockets； addressed himself in a great hurry； for fear any other benighted
traveller should slip in and forestall him； to the sly…looking landlord with
29
… Page 30…
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
the dirty apron and the bald head。
'If you have got a bed to let；' he said； 'and if that gentleman who has
just gone out won't pay your price for it； I will。'
The sly landlord looked hard at Arthur。
'Will you； sir？' he asked； in a meditative； doubtful way。
'Name your price；' said young Holliday； thinking that the landlord's
hesitation sprang from some boorish distrust of him。 'Name your price；
and I'll give you the money at once if you like？'
'Are you game for five shillings？' inquired the landlord； rubbing his
stubbly double chin； and looking up thoughtfully at the ceiling above him。
Arthur nearly laughed in the man's face； but thinking it prudent to
control himself； offered the five shillings as seriously as he could。 The
sly landlord held out his hand； then suddenly drew it back again。
'You're acting all fair and above…board by me；' he said： 'and； before I
take your money； I'll do the same by you。 Look here； this is how it stands。
You can have a bed all to yourself for five shillings； but you can't have
more than a half…share of the room it stands in。 Do you see what I mean；
young gentleman？'
'Of course I do；' returned Arthur； a little irritably。 'You mean that it is
a double…bedded room； and that one of the beds is occupied？'
The landlord nodded his head； and rubbed his double chin harder than
ever。 Arthur hesitated； and mechanically moved back a step or two
towards the door。 The idea of sleeping in the same room with a total
stranger； did not present an attractive prospect to him。 He felt more than
half inclined to drop his five shillings into his pocket； and to go out into
the street once more。
'Is it yes； or no？' asked the landlord。 'Settle it as quick as you can；
because there's lots of people wanting a bed at Doncaster to… night； besides
you。'
Arthur looked towards the court； and heard the rain falling heavily in
the street outside。 He thought he would ask a question or two before he
rashly decided on leaving the shelter of The Two Robins。
'What sort of a man is it who has got the other bed？' he inquired。 'Is he
a gentleman？ I mean； is he a quiet； well…behaved person？'
30
… Page 31…
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
'The quietest man I ever came across；' said the landlord； rubbing his fat
hands stealthily one over the other。 'As sober as a judge； and as regular
as clock…work in his habits。 It hasn't struck nine； not ten minutes ago；
and he's in his bed already。 I don't know whether that comes up to your
notion of a quiet man： it goes a long way ahead of mine； I can tell you。'
'Is he asleep； do you think？' asked Arthur。
'I know he's asleep；' returned the landlord。 'And what's more； he's
gone off so fast； that I'll warrant you don't wake him。 This way； sir；' said
the landlord； speaking over young Holliday's shoulder； as if he was
addressing some new guest who was approaching the house。
'Here you are；' said Arthur； determined to be beforehand with the
stranger； whoever he might be。 'I'll take the bed。' And he handed the
five shillings to the landlord； who nodded； dropped the money carelessly
into his waistcoat…pocket； and lighted the candle。
'Come up and see the room；' said the host of The Two Robins； leading
the way to the staircase quite briskly； considering how fat he was。
They mounted to the second…floor of the house。 The landlord half
opened a door； fronting the landing； then stopped； and turned round to
Arthur。
'It's a fair bargain； mind； on my side as well as on yours；' he said。
'You give me five shillings； I give you in return a clean； comfortable bed；
and I warrant； beforehand； that you won't be interfered with； or annoyed in
any way； by the man who sleeps in the same room as you。' Saying those
words； he looked hard； for a moment； in young Holliday's face； and then
led the way into the room。
It was larger and cleaner than Arthur had expected it would be。 The
two beds stood parallel with each other … a space of about six feet
intervening between them。 They were both of the same medium size；
and both had the same plain white curtains； made to draw； if necessary； all
round them。 The occupied bed was the bed nearest the window。 The
curtains were all drawn round this； except the half curtain at the bottom；
on the side of the bed farthest from the window。 Arthur saw the feet of
the sleeping man raising the scanty clothes into a sharp little eminence； as
if he was lying flat on his back。 He took the candle； and advanced softly
31
… Page 32…
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
to draw the curtain … stopped half…way； and listened for a moment … then
turned to the landlord。
'He's a very quiet sleeper；' said Arthur。
'Yes；' said the landlord； 'very quiet。'
Young Holliday advanced with the candle； and looked in at the man
cautiously。
'How pale he is！' said Arthur。
'Yes；' returned the landlord； 'pale enough； isn't he？'
Arthur looked closer at the man。 The bedclothes were drawn up to
his chin； and they lay perfectly still over the region of his chest。
Surprised and vaguely startled； as he noticed this； Arthur stooped down
closer over the stranger； looked at his ashy； parted lips； listened
breathlessly for an instant； looked again at the strangely still face； and the
motionless lips and chest； and turned round suddenly on the landlord； with
his own cheeks as pale for the moment as the hollow cheeks of the man on
the bed。
'Come here；' he whispered； under his breath。 'Come here； for God's
sake！ The man's not asleep … he is dead！'
'You have found that out sooner than I thought you would；' said the
landlord； composedly。 'Yes； he's dead； sure enough。 He died at five
o'clock to…day。'
'How did he die？ Who is he？' asked Arthur； staggered； for a moment；
by the audacious coolness of the answer。
'As to who is he；' rejoined the landlord； 'I know no more about him
than you do。 There are his books and letters and things； all sealed up in
that brown…paper parcel； for the Coroner's inquest to open to…morrow or
next day。 He's been here a week； paying his way fairly enough； and
stopping in…doors； for the most part； as if he was ailing。 My girl brought
him up his tea at five to…day； and as he was pouring of it out； he fell down
in a faint； or a fit； or a compound of both； for anything I know。 We could
not bring him to … and I said he was dead。 And the doctor couldn't bring
him to … and the doctor said he was dead。 And there he is。 And the
Coroner's inquest's coming as soon as it can。 And that's as much as I
know about it。'
32
… Page 33…
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
Arthur held the candle close to the man's lips。 The flame still burnt
straight up； as steadily as before。 There was a moment of silence； and the
rain pattered drearily through it against the panes of the window。
'If you haven't got nothing more to say to me；' continued the landlord；
'I suppose I may go。 You don't expect your five shillings back； do you？
There's the bed I promised you； clean and comfortable。 There's the man I
warranted not to disturb you； quiet in this world for ever。 If you're
frightened to stop alone with him； that's not my look out。 I've kept my
part of the bargain； and I mean to keep the money。 I'm not Yorkshire；
myself； young gentleman； but I've lived long enough in these parts to have
my wits sharpened； and I shouldn't wonder if you found out the way to
brighten up yours； next time you come amongst us。' With these words；
the landlord turned towards the door； and laughed to himself softly； in high
satisfaction at his own sharpness。
Startled and shocked as he was； Arthur had by this time sufficiently
recovered himself to feel indignant at the trick that had been played on
him； and at the insolent manner in which the landlord exulted in it。
'Don't laugh；' he said sharply； 'till you are quite sure you have got the
laugh against me。 You shan't have the five shillings for nothing； my man。
