the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第1章
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
THE LION AND THE
UNICORN
by RICHARD HARDING DAVIS
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
IN MEMORY OF MANY HOT DAYS AND SOME HOT
CORNERS THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO LT。…COL。 ARTHUR H。
LEE； R。A。 British Military Attache with the United States Army
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Prentiss had a long lease on the house； and because it stood in Jermyn
Street the upper floors were； as a matter of course； turned into lodgings for
single gentlemen； and because Prentiss was a Florist to the Queen； he
placed a lion and unicorn over his flowershop； just in front of the middle
window on the first floor。 By stretching a little； each of them could see
into the window just beyond him； and could hear all that was said inside；
and such things as they saw and heard during the reign of Captain
Carrington； who moved in at the same time they did！ By day the table in
the centre of the room was covered with maps； and the Captain sat with a
box of pins； with different…colored flags wrapped around them； and
amused himself by sticking them in the maps and measuring the spaces in
between； swearing meanwhile to himself。 It was a selfish amusement；
but it appeared to be the Captain's only intellectual pursuit； for at night； the
maps were rolled up； and a green cloth was spread across the table； and
there was much company and popping of soda…bottles； and little heaps of
gold and silver were moved this way and that across the cloth。 The
smoke drifted out of the open windows； and the laughter of the Captain's
guests rang out loudly in the empty street； so that the policeman halted and
raised his eyes reprovingly to the lighted windows； and cabmen drew up
beneath them and lay in wait； dozing on their folded arms； for the
Captain's guests to depart。 The Lion and the Unicorn were rather
ashamed of the scandal of it； and they were glad when； one day； the
Captain went away with his tin boxes and gun…cases piled high on a four…
wheeler。
Prentiss stood on the sidewalk and said： 〃I wish you good luck； sir。〃
And the Captain said： 〃I'm coming back a Major； Prentiss。〃 But he
never came back。 And one daythe Lion remembered the day very well；
for on that same day the newsboys ran up and down Jermyn Street
shouting out the news of 〃a 'orrible disaster〃 to the British arms。 It was
then that a young lady came to the door in a hansom； and Prentiss went out
to meet her and led her upstairs。 They heard him unlock the Captain's
door and say； 〃This is his room； miss；〃 and after he had gone they watched
her standing quite still by the centre table。 She stood there for a very
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long time looking slowly about her； and then she took a photograph of the
Captain from the frame on the mantel and slipped it into her pocket； and
when she went out again her veil was down； and she was crying。 She
must have given Prentiss as much as a sovereign； for he called her 〃Your
ladyship；〃 which he never did under a sovereign。
And she drove off； and they never saw her again either； nor could they
hear the address she gave the cabman。 But it was somewhere up St。
John's Wood way。
After that the rooms were empty for some months； and the Lion and
the Unicorn were forced to amuse themselves with the beautiful ladies and
smart…looking men who came to Prentiss to buy flowers and
〃buttonholes；〃 and the little round baskets of strawberries； and even the
peaches at three shillings each； which looked so tempting as they lay in the
window； wrapped up in cotton…wool； like jewels of great price。
Then Philip Carroll； the American gentleman； came； and they heard
Prentiss telling him that those rooms had always let for five guineas a
week； which they knew was not true； but they also knew that in the
economy of nations there must always be a higher price for the rich
American； or else why was he given that strange accent； except to betray
him into the hands of the London shopkeeper； and the London cabby？
The American walked to the window toward the west； which was the
window nearest the Lion； and looked out into the graveyard of St。 James's
Church； that stretched between their street and Piccadilly。
〃You're lucky in having a bit of green to look out on；〃 he said to
Prentiss。 〃I'll take these roomsat five guineas。 That's more than
they're worth； you know； but as I know it； too； your conscience needn't
trouble you。〃
Then his eyes fell on the Lion； and he nodded to him gravely。 〃How
do you do？〃 he said。 〃I'm coming to live with you for a little time。 I
have read about you and your friends over there。 It is a hazard of new
fortunes with me； your Majesty； so be kind to me； and if I win； I will put a
new coat of paint on your shield and gild you all over again。〃
Prentiss smiled obsequiously at the American's pleasantry； but the new
lodger only stared at him。
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〃He seemed a social gentleman；〃 said the Unicorn； that night； when the
Lion and he were talking it over。 〃Now the Captain； the whole time he
was here； never gave us so much as a look。 This one says he has read of
us。〃
〃And why not？〃 growled the Lion。 〃I hope Prentiss heard what he
said of our needing a new layer of gilt。 It's disgraceful。 You can see
that Lion over Scarlett's； the butcher； as far as Regent Street； and Scarlett
is only one of Salisbury's creations。 He received his Letters…Patent only
two years back。 We date from Palmerston。〃
The lodger came up the street just at that moment； and stopped and
looked up at the Lion and the Unicorn from the sidewalk； before he
opened the door with his night…key。 They heard him enter the room and
feel on the mantel for his pipe； and a moment later he appeared at the
Lion's window and leaned on the sill； looking down into the street below
and blowing whiffs of smoke up into the warm night…air。
It was a night in June； and the pavements were dry under foot and the
streets were filled with well…dressed people； going home from the play；
and with groups of men in black and white； making their way to supper at
the clubs。 Hansoms of inky…black； with shining lamps inside and out；
dashed noiselessly past on mysterious errands； chasing close on each
other's heels on a mad race； each to its separate goal。 From the cross
streets rose the noises of early night； the rumble of the 'buses； the creaking
of their brakes； as they unlocked； the cries of the 〃extras；〃 and the merging
of thousands of human voices in a dull murmur。 The great world of
London was closing its shutters for the night； and putting out the lights；
and the new lodger from across the sea listened to it with his heart beating
quickly； and laughed to stifle the touch of fear and homesickness that rose
in him。
〃I have seen a great play to…night；〃 he said to the Lion； 〃nobly played
by great players。 What will they care for my poor wares？ I see that I
have been over…bold。 But we cannot go back nownot yet。〃
He knocked the ashes out of his pipe； and nodded 〃good…night〃 to the
great world beyond his window。 〃What fortunes lie with ye； ye lights of
London town？〃 he quoted； smiling。 And they heard him close the door of
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his bedroom； and lock it for the night。
The next morning he bought many geraniums from Prentiss and placed
them along the broad cornice that stretched across the front of the house
over the shop window。 The flowers made a band of scarlet on either side
of the Lion as brilliant as a Tommy's jacket。
〃I am trying to propitiate the British Lion by placing flowers before his
altar；〃 the American said that morning to a visitor。
〃The British public you mean；〃 said the visitor； 〃they are each likely to
tear you to pieces。〃
〃Yes； I have heard that the pit on the first night of a bad play is
something awful；〃 hazarded the American。
〃Wait and see；〃 said the visitor。
〃Thank you；〃 said the American； meekly。
Every one who came to the first floor front talked about a play。 It
seemed to be something of great moment to the American。 It was only a
bundle of leaves printed in red and black inks and bound in brown paper
covers。 There were two of them； and the American called them by
different names： one was his comedy and one was his tragedy。
〃They are both likely to be tragedies；〃 the Lion heard one of the
visitors say to another； as they drove away together。 〃Our young friend
takes it too seriously。〃
The American spent most of his time by his desk at the window
writing on little blue pads and tearing up what he wrote； or in reading over
one of the plays to himself in a loud voice。 In time the number of his
visitors increased； and to some of these he would read his play； and after
they had left him he was either depressed and silent or excited and jubilant。
The Lion could always tell when he was happy because then he would go
to the side table and pour himself out a drink and say； 〃Here's to me；〃 but
when he wa
