beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第44章
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European languages； and were about to be translated into Syrian； a
circumstance which made the discerning critics of the Nuremberg rather
shy of maturing their future judgments too rapidly and too irrevocably。
As regards Knopfschrank's work； they did not lack opportunity for
inspecting and appraising it。 However resolutely he might hold himself
aloof from the social life of his restaurant acquaintances； he was not
minded to hide his artistic performances from their inquiring gaze。
Every evening； or nearly every evening； at about seven o'clock； he
would make his appearance； sit himself down at his accustomed table；
throw a bulky black portfolio on to the chair opposite him； nod round
indiscriminately at his fellow…guests； and commence the serious business
of eating and drinking。 When the coffee stage was reached he would
light a cigarette； draw the portfolio over to him； and begin to rummage
among its contents。 With slow deliberation he would select a few of
his more recent studies and sketches； and silently pass them round from
table to table； paying especial attention to any new diners who might be
present。 On the back of each sketch was marked in plain figures the
announcement 〃Price ten shillings。〃
If his work was not obviously stamped with the hall… mark of genius；
at any rate it was remarkable for its choice of an unusual and unvarying
theme。 His pictures always represented some well…known street or
public place in London； fallen into decay and denuded of its human
population； in the place of which there roamed a wild fauna； which； from
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its wealth of exotic species； must have originally escaped from
Zoological Gardens and travelling beast shows。 〃Giraffes drinking at
the fountain pools； Trafalgar Square；〃 was one of the most notable and
characteristic of his studies； while even more sensational was the
gruesome picture of 〃Vultures attacking dying camel in Upper Berkeley
Street。〃 There were also photographs of the large canvas on which he
had been engaged for some months； and which he was now
endeavouring to sell to some enterprising dealer or adventurous amateur。
The subject was 〃Hyaenas asleep in Euston Station；〃 a composition that
left nothing to be desired in the way of suggesting unfathomed depths of
desolation。
〃Of course it may be immensely clever； it may be something epoch…
making in the realm of art；〃 said Sylvia Strubble to her own particular
circle of listeners； 〃but； on the other hand； it may be merely mad。 One
mustn't pay too much attention to the commercial aspect of the case； of
course； but still； if some dealer would make a bid for that hyaena picture；
or even for some of the sketches； we should know better how to place
the man and his work。〃
〃We may all be cursing ourselves one of these days；〃 said Mrs。
Nougat…Jones； 〃for not having bought up his entire portfolio of sketches。
At the same time； when there is so much real talent going about； one
does not feel like planking down ten shillings for what looks like a bit
of whimsical oddity。 Now that picture that he showed us last week；
'Sand…grouse roosting on the Albert Memorial；' was very impressive； and
of course I could see there was good workmanship in it and breadth of
treatment； but it didn't in the least convey the Albert Memorial to me；
and Sir James Beanquest tells me that sand…grouse don't roost； they sleep
on the ground。〃
Whatever talent or genius the Pomeranian artist might possess； it
certainly failed to receive commercial sanction。 The portfolio remained
bulky with unsold sketches； and the 〃Euston Siesta；〃 as the wits of the
Nuremberg nicknamed the large canvas； was still in the market。 The
outward and visible signs of financial embarrassment began to be
noticeable； the half…bottle of cheap claret at dinner…time gave way to a
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small glass of lager； and this in turn was displaced by water。 The one…
and…sixpenny set dinner receded from an everyday event to a Sunday
extravagance； on ordinary days the artist contented himself with a
sevenpenny omelette and some bread and cheese； and there were
evenings when he did not put in an appearance at all。 On the rare
occasions when he spoke of his own affairs it was observed that he
began to talk more about Pomerania and less about the great world of
art。
〃It is a busy time there now with us；〃 he said wistfully； 〃the
schwines are driven out into the fields after harvest； and must be looked
after。 I could be helping to look after if I was there。 Here it is
difficult to live； art is not appreciate。〃
〃Why don't you go home on a visit？〃 some one asked tactfully。
〃Ah； it cost money！ There is the ship passage to Stolpmunde； and
there is money that I owe at my lodgings。 Even here I owe a few
schillings。 If I could sell some of my sketches … 〃
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested Mrs。 Nougat…Jones； 〃if you were to offer them
for a little less； some of us would be glad to buy a few。 Ten shillings is
always a consideration； you know； to people who are not over well off。
Perhaps if you were to ask six or seven shillings … 〃
Once a peasant； always a peasant。 The mere suggestion of a
bargain to be struck brought a twinkle of awakened alertness into the
artist's eyes； and hardened the lines of his mouth。
〃Nine schilling nine pence each；〃 he snapped； and seemed
disappointed that Mrs。 Nougat…Jones did not pursue the subject further。
He had evidently expected her to offer seven and fourpence。
The weeks sped by； and Knopfschrank came more rarely to the
restaurant in Owl Street； while his meals on those occasions became
more and more meagre。 And then came a triumphal day； when he
appeared early in the evening in a high state of elation； and ordered an
elaborate meal that scarcely stopped short of being a banquet。 The
ordinary resources of the kitchen were supplemented by an imported
dish of smoked goosebreast； a Pomeranian delicacy that was luckily
procurable at a firm of DELIKATESSEN merchants in Coventry Street；
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while a long…necked bottle of Rhine wine gave a finishing touch of
festivity and good cheer to the crowded table。
〃He has evidently sold his masterpiece；〃 whispered Sylvia Strubble
to Mrs。 Nougat…Jones； who had come in late。
〃Who has bought it？〃 she whispered back。
〃Don't know； he hasn't said anything yet； but it must be some
American。 Do you see； he has got a little American flag on the dessert
dish； and he has put pennies in the music box three times； once to play
the 'Star… spangled Banner；' then a Sousa march； and then the 'Star…
spangled Banner' again。 It must be an American millionaire； and he's
evidently got a very big price for it； he's just beaming and chuckling
with satisfaction。〃
〃We must ask him who has bought it；〃 said Mrs。 Nougat…Jones。
〃Hush！ no； don't。 Let's buy some of his sketches； quick； before we
are supposed to know that he's famous； otherwise he'll be doubling the
prices。 I am so glad he's had a success at last。 I always believed in
him； you know。〃
For the sum of ten shillings each Miss Strubble acquired the
drawings of the camel dying in Upper Berkeley Street and of the giraffes
quenching their thirst in Trafalgar Square； at the same price Mrs。
Nougat…Jones secured the study of roosting sand…grouse。 A more
ambitious picture； 〃Wolves and wapiti fighting on the steps of the
Athenaeum Club；〃 found a purchaser at fifteen shillings。
〃And now what are your plans？〃 asked a young man who
contributed occasional paragraphs to an artistic weekly。
〃I go back to Stolpmunde as soon as the ship sails；〃 said the artist；
〃and I do not return。 Never。〃
〃But your work？ Your career as painter？〃
〃Ah； there is nossing in it。 One starves。 Till to… day I have sold not
one of my sketches。 To…night you have bought a few； because I am
going away from you； but at other times； not one。〃
〃But has not some American … ？〃
〃Ah； the rich American；〃 chuckled the artist。 〃God be thanked。
He dash his car right into our herd of schwines as they were being driven
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out to the fields。 Many of our best schwines he killed； but he paid all
damages。 He paid perhaps more than they were worth； many times
more than they would have fetched in the market after a mon
