an unsocial socialist-第35章

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to　o


278

〃If　you　had　heard　the　tone　of　her　voice　when　she　asked　him
whether　he　was　in　earnest；　you　would　not　talk　to　me　like　this；〃
he　said　despondently。　〃I　wish　he　had　never　come　here。〃

〃Well；　that；　at　least；　was　no　fault　of　mine；　my　dear　fellow；〃
said　Sir　Charles。　〃He　came　among　us　against　my　will。　And　now　that
he　appears　to　have　been　in　the　rightlegallyabout　the　field；
it　would　look　like　spite　if　I　cut　him。　Besides；　he　really　isn't　a
bad　man　if　he　would　only　let　the　women　alone。〃

〃If　he　trifles　with　Miss　Lindsay；　I　shall　ask　him　to　cross　the
Channel；　and　have　a　shot　at　him。〃

〃I　don't　think　he'd　go；〃　said　Sir　Charles　dubiously。　〃If　I　were
you；　I　would　try　my　luck　with　Gertrude　at　once。　In　spite　of　what
you　heard；　I　don't　believe　she　would　marry　a　man　of　his　origin。
His　money　gives　him　an　advantage；　certainly；　but　Gertrude　has
sent　richer　men　to　the　rightabout。〃

〃Let　the　fellow　have　fair　play；〃　said　Erskine。　〃I　may　be　wrong；
of　course；　all　men　are　liable　to　err　in　judging　themselves；　but　I
think　I　could　make　her　happier　than　he　can。〃

Sir　Charles　was　not　so　sure　of　that；　but　he　cheerfully　responded；
〃Certainly。　He　is　not　the　man　for　her　at　all；　and　you　are。　He
knows　it；　too。〃

〃Hmf！〃　muttered　Erskine；　rising　dejectedly。　〃Let's　go　upstairs。〃

〃By…the…bye；　we　are　to　call　on　him　to…morrow；　to　go　through　his
house；　and　his　collection　of　photographs。　Photographs！　Ha；　ha〃
Damn　his　house！〃　said　Erskine。

Next　day　they　went　together　to　Sallust's　House。　It　stood　in　the
midst　of　an　acre　of　land；　waste　except　a　little　kitchen　garden　at
the　rear。　The　lodge　at　the　entrance　was　uninhabited；　and　the
gates　stood　open；　with　dust　and　fallen　leaves　heaped　up　against
them。　Free　ingress　had　thus　been　afforded　to　two　stray　ponies；　a
goat；　and　a　tramp；　who　lay　asleep　in　the　grass。　His　wife　sat
near；　watching　him。

〃I　have　a　mind　to　turn　back；〃　said　Sir　Charles；　looking　about　him
in　disgust。　〃　The　place　is　scandalously　neglected。　Look　at　that
rascal　asleep　within　full　view　of　the　windows。〃

〃I　admire　his　cheek；〃　said　Erskine。　〃Nice　pair　of　ponies；　too。〃

Sallust's　House　was　square　and　painted　cinnamon　color。　Beneath
the　cornice　was　a　yellow　frieze　with　figures　of　dancing　children；
imitated　from　the　works　of　Donatello；　and　very　unskilfully
executed。　There　was　a　meagre　portico　of　four　columns；　painted
red；　and　a　plain　pediment；　painted　yellow。　The　colors；　meant　to
match　those　of　the　walls；　contrasted　disagreeably　with　them；
having　been　applied　more　recently；　apparently　by　a　color…blind
artist。　The　door　beneath　the　portico　stood　open。　Sir　Charles　rang
the　bell；　and　an　elderly　woman　answered　it；　but　before　they　could
address　her；　Trefusis　appeared；　clad　in　a　painter's　jacket　of
white　jean。　Following　him　in；　they　found　that　the　house　was　a
hollow　square；　enclosing　a　courtyard　with　a　bath　sunk　in　the
middle；　and　a　fountain　in　the　centre　of　the　bath。　The　courtyard；
formerly　open　to　the　sky；　was　now　roofed　in　with　dusty　glass；　the
nymph　that　had　once　poured　out　the　water　of　the　fountain　was
barren　and　mutilated；　and　the　bath　was　partly　covered　in　with
loose　boards；　the　exposed　part　accommodating　a　heap　of　coals　in
one　corner；　a　heap　of　potatoes　in　another；　a　beer　barrel；　some
old　carpets；　a　tarpaulin；　and　a　broken　canoe。　The　marble　pavement
extended　to　the　outer　walls　of　the　house；　and　was　roofed　in　at
the　sides　by　the　upper　stories；which　were　supported　by　fluted
stone　columns；　much　stained　and　chipped。　The　staircase；　towards
which　Trefusis　led　his　visitors；　was　a　broad　one　at　the　end
opposite　the　door；　and　gave　access　to　a　gallery　leading　to　the
upper　rooms。

〃This　house　was　built　in　11780　by　an　ancestor　of　my　mother；〃　said
Trefusis。　〃He　passed　for　a　man　of　exquisite　taste。　He　wished　the
place　to　be　maintained　foreverhe　actually　used　that　expression
in　his　willas　the　family　seat；　and　he　collected　a　fine　library
here；　which　I　found　useful；　as　all　the　books　came　into　my　hands
in　good　condition；　most　of　them　with　the　leaves　uncut。　Some
people　prize　uncut　copies　of　old　editions；　a　dealer　gave　me　three
hundred　and　fifty　pounds　for　a　lot　of　them。　I　came　into
possession　of　a　number　of　family　fetishesheirlooms；　as　they　are
called。　There　was　a　sword　that　one　of　my　forbears　wore　at
Edgehill　and　other　battles　in　Charles　the　First's　time。　We　fought
on　the　wrong　side；　of　course；　but　the　sword　fetched　thirty…five
shillings　nevertheless。　You　will　hardly　believe　that　I　was
offered　one　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　for　a　gold　cup　worth　about
twenty…five；　merely　because　Queen　Elizabeth　once　drank　from　it。
This　is　my　study。　It　was　designed　for　a　banqueting　hall。〃

They　entered　a　room　as　long　as　the　wall　of　the　house；　pierced　on
one　side　by　four　tall　windows；　between　which　square　pillars；　with
Corinthian　capitals　supporting　the　cornice；　were　half　sunk　in　the
wall。　There　were　similar　pillars　on　the　opposite　side；　but
between　them；　instead　of　windows；　were　arched　niches　in　which
stood　life…size　plaster　statues；　chipped；　broken；　and　defaced　in
an　extraordinary　fashion。　The　flooring；　of　diagonally　set　narrow
boards；　was　uncarpeted　and　unpolished。　The　ceiling　was　adorned
with　frescoes；　which　at　once　excited　Sir　Charles's　interest；　and
he　noted　with　indignation　that　a　large　portion　of　the　painting　at
the　northern　end　had　been　destroyed　and　some　glass　roofing
inserted。　In　another　place　bolts　had　been　driven　in　to　support
the　ropes　of　a　trapeze　and　a　few　other　pieces　of　gymnastic
apparatus。　The　walls　were　whitewashed；　and　at　about　four　feet
from　the　ground　a　dark　band　appeared；　produced　by　pencil
memoranda　and　little　sketches　scribbled　on　the　whitewash。　One　end
of　the　apartment　was　unfurnished；　except　by　the　gymnastic
apparatus；　a　photographer's　camera；　a　ladder　in　the　corner；　and　a
common　deal　table　with　oil　cans　and　paint　pots　upon　it。　At　the
other　end　a　comparatively　luxurious　show　was　made　by　a　large
bookcase；　an　elaborate　combination　of　bureau　and　writing　desk；　a
rack　with　a　rifle；　a　set　of　foils；　and　an　umbrella　in　it；　several
folio　albums　on　a　table；　some　comfortable　chairs　and　sofas；　and　a
thick　carpet　under　foot。　Close　by；　and　seeming　much　out　of　place；
was　a　carpenter's　bench　with　the　usual　implements　and　a　number　of
boards　of　various　thicknesses。

〃This　is　a　sort　of　comfort　beyond　the　reach　of　any　but　a　rich
man；〃　said　Trefusis；　turning　and　surprising　his　visitors　in　the
act　of　exchanging　glances　of　astonishment　at　his　taste。　〃　I　keep
a　drawing…room　of　the　usual　kind　for　receiving　strangers　with
whom　it　is　necessary　to　be　conventional；　but　I　never　enter　it
except　on　such　occasions。　What　do　you　think　of　this　for　a　study？〃

〃On　my　soul；　Trefusis；　I　think　you　are　mad；〃　said　Sir　Charles。
〃The　place　looks　as　if　it　had　stood　a　siege。　How　did　you　manage
to　break　the　statues　and　chip　the　walls　so　outrageously？〃

Trefusis　took　a　newspaper　from　the　table　and　said；　〃Listen　to
this：

'In　spite　of　the　unfavorable　nature　of　the　weather；　the　sport　of
the　Emperor　and　his　guests　in　Styria　has　been　successful。　In
three　days　52　chamois　and　79　stags　and　deer　fell　to　19
single…barrelled　rifles；　the　Emperor　allowing　no　more　on　this
occasion。'

〃I　share　the　Emperor's　delight　in　shooting；　but　I　am　no　butcher；
and　do　not　need　the　royal　relish　of　blood　to　my　sport。　And　I　do
not　share　my　ancestors'　taste　in　statuary。　Hence〃　Here　Trefusis
opened　a　drawer；　took　out　a　pistol；　and　fired　at　the　Hebe　in　the
farthest　niche。

〃Well　done！〃　said　Erskine　coolly；　as　the　last　fragment　of　Hebe's
head　crumbled　at　the　touch　of　the　bullet。

〃Very　fruitlessly　done；〃　said　Trefusis。　〃I　am　a　good　shot；　but　of
what　use　is　it　to　me？　None。　I　once　met　a　gamekeeper　who　was　a
Methodist。　He　was　a　most　eloquent　speaker；　but　A　bad　shot。　If　he
could　have　swapped　talents　with　me　I　would　have　given　him　ten
thousand　pounds　to　boot　willingly；　although　he　would　have
profited　as　much　as　I　by　the　exchange　alone。　I　have　no　more
desire　or　need　to　be　a　good　shot　than　to　be　king　of　England；　or
owner　of　a　Derby　winner；　or　anything　else　equally　ridiculous；　and
yet　I　never　missed　my　aim　in　my　lifethank　blind　fortune　for
nothing！〃

〃King　of　England！〃　said　Erskine；　with　a　scornful　laugh；　to　show
Trefusis　that　other　people　were　as　liberty…loving　as　he。　〃Is　it
not　absurd　to　hear　a　nation　boasting　of　its　freedom　and
tolerating　a　king？〃

〃Oh；　hang　your　republicanism；　Chester！〃　said　Sir　Charles；　who
privately　held　a　low　opinion　of　the　political　side　of　the　Patriot
Martyrs。

〃I　won't　he　put　down　on　that　point；〃　said　Erskine。　〃I　admire　a
man　that　kills　a　king。　You　will　agree　with　me　there；　Trefusis；
won't　you？〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Trefusis。　〃A　king　nowadays　is　only　a　dummy
put　up　to　draw　your　fire　off　the　real　oppressors　of　society；　and
the　fraction　of　his　salary　that　he　can　spend　as　he　likes　is
usually　far　too　small　for　his　risk；　his　trouble；　and　the
condition　of　personal　slavery　to　which　he　is　reduced。　What
private　man　in　England　is　worse　off　than　the　constitutional
monarch？　We　deny　him　all　privacy；　he　may　not　marry　whom　he
chooses；　consort　with　whom　he　prefers；　dress　according　to　his
taste；　or　live　where　he　pleases。　I　don't　believe　he　may　even　eat
or　drink　what　he　likes　best；　a　taste　for　tripe　and　onions　on　his
part　would　provoke　a　remonstrance　from　the　Privy　Council。　We
dictate　everything　except　his　thoughts　and　dreams；　and　even　these
he　must　keep　to　himself　if　they　are　not　suitable；　in　our　opinion；
to　his　condition。　The　work　we　impose　on　him　has　all　the　hardship
of　mere　task　work；　it　is　unfruitful；　incessant；　monotonous；　and
has　to　be　transacted　for　the　most　part　with　nervous　bores。　We
make　his　kingdom　a　treadmill　to　him；　and　drive　him　to　and　fro　on
the　face　of　it。　Finally；　having　taken　everything　else　that　men
prize　from　him；　we　fall　upon　his　character；　and　that　of　every
person　to　whom　he　ventures　to　show　favor。　We　impose　enormous
expenses　on　him；　stint　him；　and　then　rail　at　his　parsimony。　We
use　him　as　I　use　those　statuesstick　him　up　in　the　place　of
honor　for　our　greater　convenience　in　disfiguring　and　abusing　him。
We　send　him　forth　through　our　crowded　cities；　proclaiming　that　he
is　the　source　of　all　good　and　evil　in　the　nation；　and　he；　knowing
that　many　people　believe　it；　knowing　that　it　is　a　lie；　and　that
he　is　powerless　to　shorten　the　working　day　by　one　hour；　raise
wages　one　penny；　or　annul　the　smallest　criminal　sentence；　however
unjust　it　may　seem　to　him；　knowing　that　every　miner　in　the
kingdom　can　manufacture　dynamite；　and　that　revolvers　are　sold　for
seven　and　sixpence　apiece；　knowing　that　he　is　not　bullet　proof；
and　that　every　king　in　Europe　has　been　shot　at　in　the　streets；　he
must　smile　and　bow　and　maintain　an　expression　of　gracious
enjoyment　whilst　the　mayor　and　corporation　inflict　upon　him　the
twaddling　address　he　has　heard　a　thousand　times　before。　I　do　not
ask　you　to　be　loyal；　Erskine；　but　I　expect　you；　in　common
humanity；　to　sympathize　with　the　chief　figure　in　the　pageant；　who
is　no　more　accountable　for　the　manifold　evils　and　abominations
that　exist　in　his　realm　than　the　Lord　Mayor　is　accountable　for
the　thefts　of　the　pickpockets　who　follow　his　show　on　the　ninth　of
November。〃

Sir　Charles　laughed　at　the　trouble　Trefusis　took　to　prove　his