classic mystery and detective stories-第43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！


As　Pinto　looked　at　itMr。　Gale　was　not　in　the　room；　I　recollect；

happening　to　have　been　just　called　out　by　a　customer　who　offered

him　three　pound　fourteen　and　sixpence　for　a　blue　Shepherd　in　pate

tendre；Mr。　Pinto　gave　a　little　start；　and　seemed　crispe　for　a

moment。　　Then　he　looked　steadily　toward　one　of　those　great

porcelain　stools　which　you　see　in　gardensandit　seemed　to　meI

tell　you　I　won't　take　my　affidavitI　may　have　been　maddened　by　the

six　glasses　I　took　of　that　pink　elixirI　may　have　been　sleep…

walking：　perhaps　am　as　I　write　nowI　may　have　been　under　the

influence　of　that　astounding　MEDIUM　into　whose　hands　I　had　fallen

but　I　vow　I　heard　Pinto　say；　with　rather　a　ghastly　grin　at　the

porcelain　stool；





　　　　　〃Nay；　nefer　shague　your　gory　locks　at　me；

　　　　　　Dou　canst　not　say　I　did　it。〃





（He　pronounced　it；　by　the　way；　I　DIT　it；　by　which　I　KNOW　that　Pinto

was　a　German。）



I　heard　Pinto　say　those　very　words；　and　sitting　on　the　porcelain

stool　I　saw；　dimly　at　first；　then　with　an　awful　distinctnessa

ghostan　EIDOLONa　formA　HEADLESS　MAN　seated　with　his　head　in

his　lap；　which　wore　an　expression　of　piteous　surprise。



At　this　minute；　Mr。　Gale　entered　from　the　front　shop　to　show　a

customer　some　Delft　plates；　and　he　did　not　seebut　WE　DIDthe

figure　rise　up　from　the　porcelain　stool；　shake　its　head；　which　it

held　in　its　hand；　and　which　kept　its　eyes　fixed　sadly　on　us；　and

disappear　behind　the　guillotine。



〃Come　to　the　'Gray's…Inn　Coffee…House；'〃　Pinto　said；　〃and　I　will

tell　you　how　the　notch　came　to　the　ax。〃　　And　we　walked　down　Holborn

at　about　thirty…seven　minutes　past　six　o'clock。



If　there　is　anything　in　the　above　statement　which　astonishes　the

reader；　I　promise　him　that　in　the　next　chapter　of　this　little　story

he　will　be　astonished　still　more。





II





〃You　will　excuse　me；〃　I　said　to　my　companion；　〃for　remarking　that

when　you　addressed　the　individual　sitting　on　the　porcelain　stool；

with　his　head　in　his　lap；　your　ordinarily　benevolent　features〃

（this　I　confess　was　a　bouncer；　for　between　ourselves　a　more

sinister　and　ill…looking　rascal　than　Mons。　P。　I　have　seldom　set

eyes　on）〃your　ordinarily　handsome　face　wore　an　expression　that

was　by　no　means　pleasing。　　You　grinned　at　the　individual　just　as

you　did　at　me　when　you　went　up　to　the　cei；　pardon　me；　as　I

THOUGHT　you　did；　when　I　fell　down　in　a　fit　in　your　chambers〃；　and　I

qualified　my　words　in　a　great　flutter　and　tremble；　I　did　not　care

to　offend　the　manI　did　not　DARE　to　offend　the　man。　　I　thought

once　or　twice　of　jumping　into　a　cab；　and　flying；　of　taking　refuge

in　Day　and　Martin's　Blacking　Warehouse；　of　speaking　to　a　policeman；

but　not　one　would　come。　　I　was　this　man's　slave。　　I　followed　him

like　his　dog。　　I　COULD　not　get　away　from　him。　　So；　you　see；　I　went

on　meanly　conversing　with　him；　and　affecting　a　simpering

confidence。　　I　remember；　when　I　was　a　little　boy　at　school；　going

up　fawning　and　smiling　in　this　way　to　some　great　hulking　bully　of　a

sixth…form　boy。　　So　I　said　in　a　word；　〃Your　ordinarily　handsome

face　wore　a　disagreeable　expression；〃　&c。



〃It　is　ordinarily　VERY　handsome；〃　said　he；　with　such　a　leer　at　a

couple　of　passers…by；　that　one　of　them　cried；　〃Oh；　crickey；　here's

a　precious　guy！〃　and　a　child；　in　its　nurse's　arms；　screamed　itself

into　convulsions。　　〃Oh；　oui；　che　suis　tres…choli　garcon；　bien　peau；

cerdainement；〃　continued　Mr。　Pinto；　〃but　you　were　right。　　That

that　person　was　not　very　well　pleased　when　he　saw　me。　　There　was　no

love　lost　between　us；　as　you　say：　and　the　world　never　knew　a　more

worthless　miscreant。　　I　hate　him；　voyez…vous？　　I　hated　him　alife；　I

hate　him　dead。　　I　hate　him　man；　I　hate　him　ghost：　and　he　know　it；

and　tremble　before　me。　　If　I　see　him　twenty　tausend　years　hence

and　why　not？I　shall　hate　him　still。　　You　remarked　how　he　was

dressed？〃



〃In　black　satin　breeches　and　striped　stockings；　a　white　pique

waistcoat；　a　gray　coat；　with　large　metal　buttons；　and　his　hair　in

powder。　　He　must　have　worn　a　pigtailonly〃



〃Only　it　was　CUT　OFF！　　Ha；　ha；　ha！〃　　Mr。　Pinto　cried；　yelling　a

laugh；　which　I　observed　made　the　policeman　stare　very　much。　　〃Yes。

It　was　cut　off　by　the　same　blow　which　took　off　the　scoundrel's

headho；　ho；　ho！〃　　And　he　made　a　circle　with　his　hook…nailed

finger　round　his　own　yellow　neck；　and　grinned　with　a　horrible

triumph。　　〃I　promise　you　that　fellow　was　surprised　when　he　found

his　head　in　the　pannier。　　Ha！　ha！　　Do　you　ever　cease　to　hate　those

whom　you　hate？〃fire　flashed　terrifically　from　his　glass　eye　as　he

spoke〃or　to　love　dose　whom　you　once　loved？　　Oh；　never；　never！〃

And　here　his　natural　eye　was　bedewed　with　tears。　　〃But　here　we　are

at　the　'Gray's…Inn　CoffeeHouse。'　　James；　what　is　the　joint？〃



That　very　respectful　and　efficient　waiter　brought　in　the　bill　of

fare；　and　I；　for　my　part；　chose　boiled　leg　of　pork；　and　pease

pudding；　which　my　acquaintance　said　would　do　as　well　as　anything

else；　though　I　remarked　he　only　trifled　with　the　pease　pudding；　and

left　all　the　pork　on　the　plate。　　In　fact；　he　scarcely　ate　anything。

But　he　drank　a　prodigious　quantity　of　wine；　and　I　must　say　that　my

friend　Mr。　Hart's　port　wine　is　so　good　that　I　myself　tookwell；　I

should　think；　I　took　three　glasses。　　Yes；　three；　certainly。　　HEI

mean　Mr。　P。the　old　rogue；　was　insatiable：　for　we　had　to　call　for

a　second　bottle　in　no　time。　　When　that　was　gone；　my　companion

wanted　another。　　A　little　red　mounted　up　to　his　yellow　cheeks　as　he

drank　the　wine；　and　he　winked　at　it　in　a　strange　manner。　　〃I

remember；〃　said　he；　musing；　〃when　port　wine　was　scarcely　drunk　in

this　countrythough　the　Queen　liked　it；　and　so　did　Hurley；　but

Bolingbroke　didn'the　drank　Florence　and　Champagne。　　Dr。　Swift　put

water　to　his　wine。　　'Jonathan；'　I　once　said　to　himbut　bah！　autres

temps；　autres　moeurs。　　Another　magnum；　James。〃



This　was　all　very　well。　　〃My　good　sir；〃　I　said；　〃it　may　suit　YOU　to

order　bottles　of　'20　port；　at　a　guinea　a　bottle；　but　that　kind　of

price　does　not　suit　me。　　I　only　happen　to　have　thirty…four　and

sixpence　in　my　pocket；　of　which　I　want　a　shilling　for　the　waiter；

and　eighteen　pence　for　my　cab。　　You　rich　foreigners　and　SWELLS　may

spend　what　you　like〃　（I　had　him　there：　for　my　friend's　dress　was　as

shabby　as　an　old…clothes　man's）；　〃but　a　man　with　a　family；　Mr。

Whatd'you…call'im；　cannot　afford　to　spend　seven　or　eight　hundred　a

year　on　his　dinner　alone。〃



〃Bah！〃　he　said。　　〃Nunkey　pays　for　all；　as　you　say。　　I　will　what　you

call　stant　the　dinner；　if　you　are　SO　POOR！〃　and　again　he　gave　that

disagreeable　grin；　and　placed　an　odious　crook…nailed　and　by　no

means　clean　finger　to　his　nose。　　But　I　was　not　so　afraid　of　him

now；　for　we　were　in　a　public　place；　and　the　three　glasses　of　port

wine　had；　you　see；　given　me　courage。



〃What　a　pretty　snuff…box！〃　he　remarked；　as　I　handed　him　mine；　which

I　am　still　old…fashioned　enough　to　carry。　　It　is　a　pretty　old　gold

box　enough；　but　valuable　to　me　especially　as　a　relic　of　an　old；　old

relative；　whom　I　can　just　remember　as　a　child；　when　she　was　very

kind　to　me。　　〃Yes；　a　pretty　box。　　I　can　remember　when　many　ladies

most　ladies；　carried　a　boxnay；　two　boxestabatiere　and

bonbonniere。　　What　lady　carries　snuff…box　now；　hey？　　Suppose　your

astonishment　if　a　lady　in　an　assembly　were　to　offer　you　a　prise？　　I

can　remember　a　lady　with　such　a　box　as　this；　with　a　tour；　as　we

used　to　call　it　then；　with　paniers；　with　a　tortoise…shell　cane；

with　the　prettiest　little　high…heeled　velvet　shoes　in　the　world！

ah！　that　was　a　time；　that　was　a　time！　　Ah；　Eliza；　Eliza；　I　have

thee　now　in　my　mind's　eye！　　At　Bungay　on　the　Waveney；　did　I　not

walk　with　thee；　Eliza？　　Aha；　did　I　not　love　thee？　　Did　I　not　walk

with　thee　then？　　Do　I　not　see　thee　still？〃



This　was　passing　strange。　　My　ancestressbut　there　is　no　need　to

publish　her　revered　namedid　indeed　live　at　Bungay　St。　Mary's；

where　she　lies　buried。　　She　used　to　walk　with　a　tortoise…shell

cane。　　She　used　to　wear　little　black　velvet　shoes；　with　the

prettiest　high　heels　in　the　world。



〃Did　youdid　youknow；　then；　my　great…gr…nd…m…ther？〃　I　said。



He　pulled　up　his　coat　sleeve〃Is　that　her　name？〃　he　said。



〃Eliza〃



There；　I　declare；　was　the　very　name　of　the　kind　old　creature

written　in　red　on　his　arm。



〃YOU　knew　her　old；〃　he　said；　divining　my　thoughts　（with　his　strange

knack）；　〃I　knew　her　young　and　lovely。　　I　danced　with　her　at　the

Bury　ball。　　Did　I　not；　dear；　dear　Miss　？〃



As　I　live；　he　here　mentioned　dear　gr…nny's　MAIDEN　name。　　Her　maiden

name　was　。　　Her　honored　married　name　was　。



〃She　married　your　great…gr…ndf…th…r　the　year　Poseidon　won　the

Newmarket　Plate；〃　Mr。　Pinto　dryly　remarked。



Merciful　powers！　　I　remember；　over　the　old　shagreen　knife　and　spoon

case　on　the　sideboard　in　my　gr…nny's　parlor；　a　print　by　Stubbs　of

that　very　horse。　　My　grandsire；　in　a　red　coat；　and　his　fair　hair

flowing　over　his　shoulders；　was　over　the　mantelpiece；　and　Poseidon

won　the　Newmarket　Cup　in　the　year　1783！



〃Yes；　you　are　right。　　I　danced　a　minuet　with　her　at　Bury　that　very

night；　before　I　lost　my　poor　leg。　　And　I　quarreled　with　your

grandf；　ha！〃



As　he　said　〃Ha！〃　there　came　three　quiet　little　taps　on　the　table

it　is　the　middle　table　in　the　〃Gray's…Inn　CoffeeHouse；〃　under　the

bust　of　the　late　Duke　of　W…ll…ngt…n。



〃I　fired　in　the　air；〃　he　continued；　〃did　I　not？〃　（Tap；　tap；　tap。）

〃Your　grandfather　hit　me　in　the　leg。　　He　married　three　months

afterwards。　　'Captain　Brown；'　I　said　'who　could　see　Miss　Sm…th

without　loving　her？'　　She　is　there！　　She　is　there！〃　（Tap；　tap；

tap。）　　〃Yes；　my　first　love〃



But　here　there　came　tap；　tap；　which　everybody　knows　means　〃No。〃



〃I　forgot；〃　he　said；　with　a　faint　blush　stealing　over　his　wan

features；　〃she　was　not　my　first　love。　　In　Germin　my　own　country

there　WAS　a　young　woman〃



Tap；　tap；　tap。　　There　was　here　quite　a　lively　little　treble　knock；

and　when　the　old　man　said；　〃But　I　loved　thee　better　than　all　the

world；　Eliza；〃　the　affirmative　signal　was　briskly　repeated。



And　this　I　declare　UPON　MY　HONOR。　　There　was；　I　have　said；　a　bottle

of　port　wine　before　usI　should　say　a　decanter。　　That　decanter　was

LIFTED　UP；　and　out　of　it　into　our　respective　glasses　two　bumpers　of

wine　were　poured。　　I　appeal　to　Mr。　Hart；　the　landlordI　appeal　to

James；　the　respectful　and　intelligent　waiter；　if　this　statement　is

not　true？　　And　when　we　had　finished　that　magnum；　and　I　saidfor　I

did　not　now　in　the　least　doubt　her　presence〃Dear　gr…nny；　may　we

have　another　magnum？〃　the　table　DISTINCTLY　rapped　〃No。〃。



〃Now；　my　good　sir；〃　Mr。　Pinto　said；　who　really　began　to　be　affected

by　the　wine；　〃you　understand　the　interest　I　have　taken　in　you。　　I

loved　Eliza　〃　（of　course　I　don't　mention　family　names）。　　〃I

knew　you　had　that　box　which　belonged　to　herI　will　give　you　what

you　like　for　that　box。　　Name　your　price　at　once；　and　I　pay　you　on

the　spot。〃



〃Why；　when　you　came　out；　you　said　you　had　not