five tales-第5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！


d；　of　emotion　caged　within　those　yellowish　walls　and　the　red　stuff　of　its　furniture。　　That　girl's　face！　　Devotion；　truth；　too；　and　beauty；　rare　and　moving；　in　its　setting　of　darkness　and　horror；　in　that　nest　of　vice　and　of　disorder！。。。　　The　dark　archway；　the　street　arab；　with　his　gleeful：　〃They　'ain't　got　'im　yet！〃；　the　feel　of　those　bare　arms　round　his　neck；　that　whisper　of　horror　in　the　darkness；　above　all；　again；　her　child　face　looking　into　his；　so　truthful！　　And　suddenly　he　stood　quite　still　in　the　street。　　What　in　God's　name　was　he　about？　What　grotesque　juggling　amongst　shadows；　what　strange　and　ghastly　eccentricity　was　all　this？　　The　forces　of　order　and　routine；　all　the　actualities　of　his　daily　life；　marched　on　him　at　that　moment；　and　swept　everything　before　them。　　It　was　a　dream；　a　nightmare　not　real！　It　was　ridiculous！　　That　he　…he　should　thus　be　bound　up　with　things　so　black　and　bizarre！

He　had　come　by　now　to　the　Strand；　that　street　down　which　every　day　he　moved　to　the　Law　Courts；　to　his　daily　work；　his　work　so　dignified　and　regular；　so　irreproachable；　and　solid。　　No！　　The　thing　was　all　a　monstrous　nightmare！　　It　would　go；　if　he　fixed　his　mind　on　the　familiar　objects　around；　read　the　names　on　the　shops；　looked　at　the　faces　passing。　　Far　down　the　thoroughfare　he　caught　the　outline　of　the　old　church；　and　beyond；　the　loom　of　the　Law　Courts　themselves。　The　bell　of　a　fire…engine　sounded；　and　the　horses　came　galloping　by；　with　the　shining　metal；　rattle　of　hoofs　and　hoarse　shouting。　　Here　was　a　sensation；　real　and　harmless；　dignified　and　customary！　　A　woman　flaunting　round　the　corner　looked　up　at　him；　and　leered　out：　〃Good…　night！〃　　Even　that　was　customary；　tolerable。　　Two　policemen　passed；　supporting　between　them　a　man　the　worse　for　liquor；　full　of　fight　and　expletives；　the　sight　was　soothing；　an　ordinary　thing　which　brought　passing　annoyance；　interest；　disgust。　　It　had　begun　to　rain；　he　felt　it　on　his　face　with　pleasurean　actual　thing；　not　eccentric；　a　thing　which　happened　every　day！

He　began　to　cross　the　street。　　Cabs　were　going　at　furious　speed　now　that　the　last　omnibus　had　ceased　to　run；　it　distracted　him　to　take　this　actual；　ordinary　risk　run　so　often　every　day。　　During　that　crossing　of　the　Strand；　with　the　rain　in　his　face　and　the　cabs　shooting　past；　he　regained　for　the　first　time　his　assurance；　shook　off　this　unreal　sense　of　being　in　the　grip　of　something；　and　walked　resolutely　to　the　corner　of　his　home　turning。　　But　passing　into　that　darker　stretch；　he　again　stood　still。　　A　policeman　had　also　turned　into　that　street　on　the　other　side。　　Notsurely　not！　　Absurd！　　They　were　all　alike　to　look　atthose　fellows！　　Absurd！　　He　walked　on　sharply；　and　let　himself　into　his　house。　　But　on　his　way　upstairs　he　could　not　for　the　life　of　him　help　raising　a　corner　of　a　curtain　and　looking　from　the　staircase　window。　　The　policeman　was　marching　solemnly；　about　twenty…five　yards　away；　paying　apparently　no　attention　to　anything　whatever。




IV

Keith　woke　at　five　o'clock；　his　usual　hour；　without　remembrance。　　But　the　grisly　shadow　started　up　when　he　entered　his　study；　where　the　lamp　burned；　and　the　fire　shone；　and　the　coffee　was　set　ready；　just　as　when　yesterday　afternoon　Larry　had　stood　out　there　against　the　wall。　　For　a　moment　he　fought　against　realisation；　then；　drinking　off　his　coffee；　sat　down　sullenly　at　the　bureau　to　his　customary　three　hours'　study　of　the　day's　cases。

Not　one　word　of　his　brief　could　he　take　in。　　It　was　all　jumbled　with　murky　images　and　apprehensions；　and　for　full　half　an　hour　he　suffered　mental　paralysis。　　Then　the　sheer　necessity　of　knowing　something　of　the　case　which　he　had　to　open　at　half…past　ten　that　morning　forced　him　to　a　concentration　which　never　quite　subdued　the　malaise　at　the　bottom　of　his　heart。　　Nevertheless；　when　he　rose　at　half…past　eight　and　went　into　the　bathroom；　he　had　earned　his　grim　satisfaction　in　this　victory　of　will…power。　　By　half…past　nine　he　must　be　at　Larry's。　A　boat　left　London　for　the　Argentine　to…morrow。　　If　Larry　was　to　get　away　at　once；　money　must　be　arranged　for。　　And　then　at　breakfast　he　came　on　this　paragraph　in　the　paper：

　　　　　　　　　　　〃SOHO　MURDER。

〃Enquiry　late　last　night　established　the　fact　that　the　Police　have　discovered　the　identity　of　the　man　found　strangled　yesterday　morning　under　an　archway　in　Glove　Lane。　　An　arrest　has　been　made。〃

By　good　fortune　he　had　finished　eating；　for　the　words　made　him　feel　physically　sick。　　At　this　very　minute　Larry　might　be　locked　up；　waiting　to　be　charged…might　even　have　been　arrested　before　his　own　visit　to　the　girl　last　night。　　If　Larry　were　arrested；　she　must　be　implicated。　　What；　then；　would　be　his　own　position？　　Idiot　to　go　and　look　at　that　archway；　to　go　and　see　the　girl！　　Had　that　policeman　really　followed　him　home？　　Accessory　after　the　fact！　　Keith　Darrant；　King's　Counsel；　man　of　mark！　　He　forced　himself　by　an　effort；　which　had　something　of　the　heroic；　to　drop　this　panicky　feeling。　　Panic　never　did　good。　　He　must　face　it；　and　see。　　He　refused　even　to　hurry；　calmly　collected　the　papers　wanted　for　the　day；　and　attended　to　a　letter　or　two；　before　he　set　out　in　a　taxi…cab　to　Fitzroy　Street。

Waiting　outside　there　in　the　grey　morning　for　his　ring　to　be　answered；　he　looked　the　very　picture　of　a　man　who　knew　his　mind；　a　man　of　resolution。　　But　it　needed　all　his　will…power　to　ask　without　tremor：　〃Mr。　Darrant　in？〃　　to　hear　without　sign　of　any　kind　the　answer：　〃He's　not　up　yet；　sir。〃

〃Never　mind；　I'll　go　in　and　see　him。　　Mr。　Keith　Darrant。〃

On　his　way　to　Laurence's　bedroom；　in　the　midst　of　utter　relief；　he　had　the　self…possession　to　think：　'This　arrest　is　the　best　thing　that　could　have　happened。　　It'll　keep　their　noses　on　a　wrong　scent　till　Larry's　got　away。　　The　girl　must　be　sent　off　too；　but　not　with　him。'　Panic　had　ended　in　quite　hardening　his　resolution。　　He　entered　the　bedroom　with　a　feeling　of　disgust。　　The　fellow　was　lying　there；　his　bare　arms　crossed　behind　his　tousled　head；　staring　at　the　ceiling；　and　smoking　one　of　many　cigarettes　whose　ends　littered　a　chair　beside　him；　whose　sickly　reek　tainted　the　air。　　That　pale　face；　with　its　jutting　cheek…bones　and　chin；　its　hollow　cheeks　and　blue　eyes　far　sunk　backwhat　a　wreck　of　goodness！

He　looked　up　at　Keith　through　the　haze　of　smoke　and　said　quietly：　〃Well；　brother；　what's　the　sentence？　　'Transportation　for　life；　and　then　to　be　fined　forty　pounds？'〃

The　flippancy　revolted　Keith。　　It　was　Larry　all　over！　　Last　night　horrified　and　humble；　this　morning；　〃Don't　care〃　and　feather…headed。　He　said　sourly：

〃Oh！　　You　can　joke　about　it　now？〃

Laurence　turned　his　face　to　the　wall。

〃Must。〃

Fatalism！　　How　detestable　were　natures　like　that！

〃I've　been　to　see　her；〃　he　said。

〃You？〃

〃Last　night。　　She　can　be　trusted。〃

Laurence　laughed。

〃That　I　told　you。〃

〃I　had　to　see　for　myself。　　You　must　clear　out　at　once；　Larry。　　She　can　come　out　to　you　by　the　next　boat；　but　you　can't　go　together。　Have　you　any　money？〃

〃No。〃

〃I　can　foot　your　expenses；　and　lend　you　a　year's　income　in　advance。　But　it　must　be　a　clean　cut；　after　you　get　out　there　your　whereabouts　must　only　be　known　to　me。〃

A　long　sigh　answered　him。

〃You're　very　good　to　me；　Keith；　you've　always　been　very　good。　　I　don't　know　why。〃

Keith　answered　drily

〃Nor　I。　　There's　a　boat　to　the　Argentine　tomorrow。　　You're　in　luck；　they've　made　an　arrest。　　It's　in　the　paper。〃

〃What？〃

The　cigarette　end　dropped；　the　thin　pyjama'd　figure　writhed　up　and　stood　clutching　at　the　bedrail。

〃What？〃

The　disturbing　thought　flitted　through　Keith's　brain：　'I　was　a　fool。　He　takes　it　queerly；　what　now？'

Laurence　passed　his　hand　over　his　forehead；　and　sat　down　on　the　bed。

〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that；〃　he　said；　〃It　does　me！〃

Keith　stared。　　In　his　relief　that　the　arrested　man　was　not　Laurence；　this　had　not　occurred　to　him。　　What　folly！

〃Why？〃　　he　said　quickly；　〃an　innocent　man's　in　no　danger。　　They　always　get　the　wrong　man　first。　　It's　a　piece　of　luck；　that's　all。　It　gives　us　time。〃

How　often　had　he　not　seen　that　expression　on　Larry's　face；　wistful；　questioning；　as　if　trying　to　see　the　thing　with　hisKeith's…eyes；　trying　to　submit　to　better　judgment？　　And　he　said；　almost　gently

〃Now；　look　here；　Larry；　this　is　too　serious　to　trifle　with。　　Don't　worry　about　that。　　Leave　it　to　me。　　Just　get　ready　to　be　off'。　　I'll　take　your　berth　and　make　arrangements。　　Here's　some　money　for　kit。　　I　can　come　round　between　five　and　six；　and　let　you　know。　　Pull　yourself　together；　man。　　As　soon　as　the　girl's　joined　you　out　there；　you'd　better　get　across　to　Chile；　the　further　the　better。　　You　must　simply　lose　yourself：　I　must　go　now；　if　I'm　to　get　to　the　Bank　before　I　go　down　to　the　courts。〃　　And　looking　very　steadily　at　his　brother；　he　added：

〃Come！　　You've　got　to　think　of　me　in　this　matter　as　well　as　of　yourself。　　No　playing　fast　and　loose　with　the　arrangements。　Understand？〃

But　still　Larry　gazed　up　at　him　with　that　wistful　questioning；　and　not　till　he　had　repeated；　〃Understand？〃　　did　he　receive　〃Yes〃　for　answer。

Driving　away；　he　thought：　'Queer　fellow！　　I　don't　know　him；　shall　never　know　him！'　and　at　once　began　to　concentrate　on　the　practical　arrangements。　　At　his　bank　he　drew　out　L400；　but　waiting　for　the　notes　to　be　counted　he　suffered　qualms。　　A　clumsy　way　of　doing　things！　　If　there　had　been　more　time！　　The　thought：　'Accessory　after　the　fact！'　now　infected　everything。　　Notes　were　traceable。　　No　other　way　of　getting　him　away　at　once；　though。　　One　must　take　lesser　risks　to　avoid　greater。　　From　the　bank　he　drove　to　the　office　of　the　steamship　line。　　He　had　told　Larry　he　would　book　his　passage。　　But　that　would　not　do！　　He　must　only　ask　anonymously　if　there　were　accommodation。　　Having　discovered　that　there　were　vacant　berths；　he　drove　on　to　the　Law　Courts。　　If　he　could　have　taken　a　morning　off；　he　would　have　gone　down　to　the　police　court　and　seen　them　charge　this　man。　　But　even　that　was　not　too　safe；　with　a　face　so　well　known　as　his。　　What　would　come　of　this　arrest？　　Nothing；　surely！　　The　police　always　took　somebody　up；　to　keep　the　public　quiet。　　Then；　suddenly；　he　had　again　the　feeling　that　it　was　all　a　nightmare；　Larry　had　never　done　it；　the　police　had　got　the　right　man！　　But　instantly　the　memory　of　the　girl's　awe…stricken　face；　her　figure　huddling　on　the　sofa；　her　words　〃I　see　him　always　falling！〃　　came　back。　　God！　　What　a　business！

He　felt　he　had　never　been　more　clear…headed　and　forcible　than　that　morning　in　court。　　When　he　came　out　for　lunch　he　bought　the　most　sensational　of　the　evening　papers。　　But　it　was　yet　too　early　for　news；　and　he　had　to　go　back　into　court　no　whit　wiser　concerning　the　arrest。　　When　at　last　he　threw　off　wig　and　gown；　and　had　got　through　a　conference　and　other　necessary　work；　he　went　out　to　Chancery　Lane；　buying　a　paper　on　the　way。　　Then　he　hailed　a　cab；　and　drove　once　more　to　Fitzroy　Street。




V

Laurence　had　remained　sitting　on　his　bed　for　many　minutes。　　An　innocent　man　in　no　danger！　　Keith　had　said　itthe　celebrated　lawyer！　Could　he　rely　on　that？　　Go　out　8；000　miles；　he　and　the　girl；　and　leave　a　fellow…creature　perhaps　in　mortal　peril　for　an　act　committed　by　himself？

In　the　past　night　he　had　touched　bottom；　as　he　thought：　become　ready　to　face　anything。　　When　Keith　came　in　he　wo