round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第34章
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blazers； all were hurrying towards the blue winding river which curves
through the Oxford meadows。
Abercrombie Smith； with the intuition of an old oarsman； chose his
position at the point where he knew that the struggle； if there were a
struggle； would come。 Far off he heard the hum which announced the
start； the gathering roar of the approach； the thunder of running feet； and
the shouts of the men in the boats beneath him。 A spray of half…clad；
deep… breathing runners shot past him； and craning over their shoulders； he
saw Hastie pulling a steady thirty…six； while his opponent； with a jerky
forty； was a good boat's length behind him。 Smith gave a cheer for his
friend； and pulling out his watch； was starting off again for his chambers；
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when he felt a touch upon his shoulder； and found that young Monkhouse
Lee was beside him。
〃I saw you there；〃 he said； in a timid； deprecating way。 〃I wanted to
speak to you； if you could spare me a half…hour。 This cottage is mine。 I
share it with Harrington of King's。 Come in and have a cup of tea。〃
〃I must be back presently；〃 said Smith。 〃I am hard on the grind at
present。 But I'll come in for a few minutes with pleasure。 I wouldn't
have come out only Hastie is a friend of mine。〃
〃So he is of mine。 Hasn't he a beautiful style？ Mullins wasn't in it。
But come into the cottage。 It's a little den of a place； but it is pleasant to
work in during the summer months。〃
It was a small； square； white building； with green doors and shutters；
and a rustic trellis…work porch； standing back some fifty yards from the
river's bank。 Inside； the main room was roughly fitted up as a studydeal
table； unpainted shelves with books； and a few cheap oleographs upon the
wall。 A kettle sang upon a spirit…stove； and there were tea things upon a
tray on the table。
〃Try that chair and have a cigarette；〃 said Lee。 〃Let me pour you out
a cup of tea。 It's so good of you to come in； for I know that your time is a
good deal taken up。 I wanted to say to you that； if I were you； I should
change my rooms at once。〃
〃Eh？〃
Smith sat staring with a lighted match in one hand and his unlit
cigarette in the other。
〃Yes； it must seem very extraordinary； and the worst of it is that I
cannot give my reasons； for I am under a solemn promisea very solemn
promise。 But I may go so far as to say that I don't think Bellingham is a
very safe man to live near。 I intend to camp out here as much as I can for
a time。〃
〃Not safe！ What do you mean？〃
〃Ah； that's what I mustn't say。 But do take my advice； and move your
rooms。 We had a grand row to… day。 You must have heard us； for you
came down the stairs。〃
〃I saw that you had fallen out。〃
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〃He's a horrible chap； Smith。 That is the only word for him。 I have
had doubts about him ever since that night when he faintedyou
remember； when you came down。 I taxed him to…day； and he told me
things that made my hair rise； and wanted me to stand in with him。 I'm
not strait…laced； but I am a clergyman's son； you know； and I think there
are some things which are quite beyond the pale。 I only thank God that I
found him out before it was too late； for he was to have married into my
family。〃
〃This is all very fine； Lee；〃 said Abercrombie Smith curtly。 〃But
either you are saying a great deal too much or a great deal too little。〃
〃I give you a warning。〃
〃If there is real reason for warning； no promise can bind you。 If I see
a rascal about to blow a place up with dynamite no pledge will stand in my
way of preventing him。〃
〃Ah； but I cannot prevent him； and I can do nothing but warn you。〃
〃Without saying what you warn me against。〃
〃Against Bellingham。〃
〃But that is childish。 Why should I fear him； or any man？〃
〃I can't tell you。 I can only entreat you to change your rooms。 You
are in danger where you are。 I don't even say that Bellingham would
wish to injure you。 But it might happen； for he is a dangerous neighbour
just now。〃
〃Perhaps I know more than you think；〃 said Smith； looking keenly at
the young man's boyish； earnest face。 〃Suppose I tell you that some one
else shares Bellingham's rooms。〃
Monkhouse Lee sprang from his chair in uncontrollable excitement。
〃You know； then？〃 he gasped。
〃A woman。〃
Lee dropped back again with a groan。
〃My lips are sealed；〃 he said。 〃I must not speak。〃
〃Well； anyhow；〃 said Smith； rising； 〃it is not likely that I should allow
myself to be frightened out of rooms which suit me very nicely。 It would
be a little too feeble for me to move out all my goods and chattels because
you say that Bellingham might in some unexplained way do me an injury。
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I think that I'll just take my chance； and stay where I am； and as I see that
it's nearly five o'clock； I must ask you to excuse me。〃
He bade the young student adieu in a few curt words； and made his
way homeward through the sweet spring evening feeling half…ruffled； half…
amused； as any other strong； unimaginative man might who has been
menaced by a vague and shadowy danger。
There was one little indulgence which Abercrombie Smith always
allowed himself； however closely his work might press upon him。 Twice
a week； on the Tuesday and the Friday； it was his invariable custom to
walk over to Farlingford； the residence of Dr。 Plumptree Peterson； situated
about a mile and a half out of Oxford。 Peterson had been a close friend
of Smith's elder brother Francis； and as he was a bachelor； fairly well…to…
do； with a good cellar and a better library； his house was a pleasant goal
for a man who was in need of a brisk walk。 Twice a week； then； the
medical student would swing out there along the dark country roads； and
spend a pleasant hour in Peterson's comfortable study； discussing； over a
glass of old port； the gossip of the 'varsity or the latest developments of
medicine or of surgery。
On the day which followed his interview with Monkhouse Lee； Smith
shut up his books at a quarter past eight； the hour when he usually started
for his friend's house。 As he was leaving his room； however； his eyes
chanced to fall upon one of the books which Bellingham had lent him； and
his conscience pricked him for not having returned it。 However repellent
the man might be； he should not be treated with discourtesy。 Taking the
book； he walked downstairs and knocked at his neighbour's door。 There
was no answer； but on turning the handle he found that it was unlocked。
Pleased at the thought of avoiding an interview； he stepped inside； and
placed the book with his card upon the table。
The lamp was turned half down； but Smith could see the details of the
room plainly enough。 It was all much as he had seen it beforethe frieze；
the animal…headed gods； the banging crocodile； and the table littered over
with papers and dried leaves。 The mummy case stood upright against the
wall； but the mummy itself was missing。 There was no sign of any
second occupant of the room； and he felt as he withdrew that he had
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probably done Bellingham an injustice。 Had he a guilty secret to
preserve； he would hardly leave his door open so that all the world might
enter。
The spiral stair was as black as pitch； and Smith was slowly making
his way down its irregular steps； when he was suddenly conscious that
something had passed him in the darkness。 There was a faint sound； a
whiff of air； a light brushing past his elbow； but so slight that he could
scarcely be certain of it。 He stopped and listened； but the wind was
rustling among the ivy outside； and he could hear nothing else。
〃Is that you； Styles？〃 he shouted。
There was no answer； and all was still behind him。 It must have been
a sudden gust of air； for there were crannies and cracks in the old turret。
And yet he could almost have sworn that be heard a footfall by his very
side。 He had emerged into the quadrangle； still turning the matter over in
his head； when a man came running swiftly across the smooth…cropped
lawn。
〃Is that you； Smith？〃
〃Hullo； Hastie！〃
〃For God's sake come at once！ Young Lee is drowned！ Here's
Harrington of King's with the news。 The doctor is out。 You'll do； but
come along at once。 There may be life in him。〃
〃Have you brandy？〃
〃No。 〃
〃I'll bring some。 There's a flask on my table。〃
Smith bounded up the stairs； taking three at a time； seized the flask；
and was rushing down with it； when； as he passed Bellingham's room； his
eyes fell upon something which left him gasping and staring upon the
landing。
The door； which he had closed behind him； was now open； and right in
front of him； with the lamp…light shining upon it； was the mummy case。
Three minutes ago it had been empty。 He could swear to that。 Now it
framed the lank body of its horrible occupant； who stood； grim and stark；
with his black shrivelled face towards the door。 The form was lifeless
and inert； but it seemed to Smith as he gazed that there still lingered a lurid
