the mysterious stranger-第4章

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〃The　difference　between　man　and　me？　　The　difference　between　a　mortal　and
an　immortal？　　between　a　cloud　and　a　spirit？〃　He　picked　up　a　wood…louse
that　was　creeping　along　a　piece　of　bark：　〃What　is　the　difference　between
Caesar　and　this？〃

I　said；　〃One　cannot　compare　things　which　by　their　nature　and　by　the
interval　between　them　are　not　comparable。〃

〃You　have　answered　your　own　question；〃　he　said。　　〃I　will　expand　it。　　Man
is　made　of　dirtI　saw　him　made。　　I　am　not　made　of　dirt。　　Man　is　a　museum
of　diseases；　a　home　of　impurities；　he　comes　to…day　and　is　gone　to…morrow；
he　begins　as　dirt　and　departs　as　stench；　I　am　of　the　aristocracy　of　the
Imperishables。　　And　man　has　the　Moral　Sense。　　You　understand？　　He　has　the
Moral　Sense。　　That　would　seem　to　be　difference　enough　between　us；　all　by
itself。〃

He　stopped　there；　as　if　that　settled　the　matter。　　I　was　sorry；　for　at
that　time　I　had　but　a　dim　idea　of　what　the　Moral　Sense　was。　　I　merely
knew　that　we　were　proud　of　having　it；　and　when　he　talked　like　that　about
it；　it　wounded　me；　and　I　felt　as　a　girl　feels　who　thinks　her　dearest
finery　is　being　admired　and　then　overhears　strangers　making　fun　of　it。
For　a　while　we　were　all　silent；　and　I；　for　one；　was　depressed。　　Then
Satan　began　to　chat　again；　and　soon　he　was　sparkling　along　in　such　a
cheerful　and　vivacious　vein　that　my　spirits　rose　once　more。　　He　told　some
very　cunning　things　that　put　us　in　a　gale　of　laughter；　and　when　he　was
telling　about　the　time　that　Samson　tied　the　torches　to　the　foxes'　tails
and　set　them　loose　in　the　Philistines'　corn；　and　Samson　sitting　on　the
fence　slapping　his　thighs　and　laughing；　with　the　tears　running　down　his
cheeks；　and　lost　his　balance　and　fell　off　the　fence；　the　memory　of　that
picture　got　him　to　laughing；　too；　and　we　did　have　a　most　lovely　and　jolly
time。　　By　and　by　he　said：

〃I　am　going　on　my　errand　now。〃

〃Don't！〃　we　all　said。　　〃Don't　go；　stay　with　us。　　You　won't　come　back。〃

〃Yes；　I　will；　I　give　you　my　word。〃

〃When？　　To…night？　　Say　when。〃

〃It　won't　be　long。　　You　will　see。〃

〃We　like　you。〃

〃And　I　you。　　And　as　a　proof　of　it　I　will　show　you　something　fine　to　see。
Usually　when　I　go　I　merely　vanish；　but　now　I　will　dissolve　myself　and　let
you　see　me　do　it。〃

He　stood　up；　and　it　was　quickly　finished。　　He　thinned　away　and　thinned
away　until　he　was　a　soap…bubble；　except　that　he　kept　his　shape。　　You
could　see　the　bushes　through　him　as　clearly　as　you　see　things　through　a
soap…bubble；　and　all　over　him　played　and　flashed　the　delicate　iridescent
colors　of　the　bubble；　and　along　with　them　was　that　thing　shaped　like　a
window…sash　which　you　always　see　on　the　globe　of　the　bubble。　　You　have
seen　a　bubble　strike　the　carpet　and　lightly　bound　along　two　or　three
times　before　it　bursts。　　He　did　that。　　He　sprangtouched　the　grass
boundedfloated　alongtouched　againand　so　on；　and　presently　exploded
puff！　and　in　his　place　was　vacancy。

It　was　a　strange　and　beautiful　thing　to　see。　　We　did　not　say　anything；
but　sat　wondering　and　dreaming　and　blinking；　and　finally　Seppi　roused　up
and　said；　mournfully　sighing：

〃I　suppose　none　of　it　has　happened。〃

Nikolaus　sighed　and　said　about　the　same。

I　was　miserable　to　hear　them　say　it；　for　it　was　the　same　cold　fear　that
was　in　my　own　mind。　　Then　we　saw　poor　old　Father　Peter　wandering　along
back；　with　his　head　bent　down；　searching　the　ground。　　When　he　was　pretty
close　to　us　he　looked　up　and　saw　us；　and　said；　〃How　long　have　you　been
here；　boys？〃

〃A　little　while；　Father。〃

〃Then　it　is　since　I　came　by；　and　maybe　you　can　help　me。　　Did　you　come　up
by　the　path？〃

〃Yes；　Father。〃

〃That　is　good。　　I　came　the　same　way。　　I　have　lost　my　wallet。　　There
wasn't　much　in　it；　but　a　very　little　is　much　to　me；　for　it　was　all　I　had。
I　suppose　you　haven't　seen　anything　of　it？〃

〃No；　Father；　but　we　will　help　you　hunt。〃

〃It　is　what　I　was　going　to　ask　you。　　Why；　here　it　is！〃

We　hadn't　noticed　it；　yet　there　it　lay；　right　where　Satan　stood　when　he
began　to　meltif　he　did　melt　and　it　wasn't　a　delusion。　　Father　Peter
picked　it　up　and　looked　very　much　surprised。

〃It　is　mine；〃　he　said；　〃but　not　the　contents。　　This　is　fat；　mine　was
flat；　mine　was　light；　this　is　heavy。〃　　He　opened　it；　it　was　stuffed　as
full　as　it　could　hold　with　gold　coins。　　He　let　us　gaze　our　fill；　and　of
course　we　did　gaze；　for　we　had　never　seen　so　much　money　at　one　time
before。　　All　our　mouths　came　open　to　say　〃Satan　did　it！〃　but　nothing　came
out。　　There　it　was；　you　seewe　couldn't　tell　what　Satan　didn't　want
told；　he　had　said　so　himself。

〃Boys；　did　you　do　this？〃

It　made　us　laugh。　　And　it　made　him　laugh；　too；　as　soon　as　he　thought　what
a　foolish　question　it　was。

〃Who　has　been　here？〃

Our　mouths　came　open　to　answer；　but　stood　so　for　a　moment；　because　we
couldn't　say　〃Nobody；〃　for　it　wouldn't　be　true；　and　the　right　word　didn't
seem　to　come；　then　I　thought　of　the　right　one；　and　said　it：

〃Not　a　human　being。〃

〃That　is　so；〃　said　the　others；　and　let　their　mouths　go　shut。

〃It　is　not　so；〃　said　Father　Peter；　and　looked　at　us　very　severely。　　〃I
came　by　here　a　while　ago；　and　there　was　no　one　here；　but　that　is　nothing；
some　one　has　been　here　since。　　I　don't　mean　to　say　that　the　person　didn't
pass　here　before　you　came；　and　I　don't　mean　to　say　you　saw　him；　but　some
one　did　pass；　that　I　know。　　On　your　honoryou　saw　no　one？〃

〃Not　a　human　being。〃

〃That　is　sufficient；　I　know　you　are　telling　me　the　truth。〃

He　began　to　count　the　money　on　the　path；　we　on　our　knees　eagerly　helping
to　stack　it　in　little　piles。

〃It's　eleven　hundred　ducats　odd！〃　he　said。　　〃Oh　dear！　　if　it　were　only
mineand　I　need　it　so！〃　and　his　voice　broke　and　his　lips　quivered。

〃It　is　yours；　sir！〃　we　all　cried　out　at　once；　〃every　heller！〃

〃Noit　isn't　mine。　　Only　four　ducats　are　mine；　the　rest。。。！〃　He　fell　to
dreaming；　poor　old　soul；　and　caressing　some　of　the　coins　in　his　hands；
and　forgot　where　he　was；　sitting　there　on　his　heels　with　his　old　gray
head　bare；　it　was　pitiful　to　see。　　〃No；〃　he　said；　waking　up；　〃it　isn't
mine。　　I　can't　account　for　it。　　I　think　some　enemy。。。　　it　must　be　a
trap。〃

Nikolaus　said：　〃Father　Peter；　with　the　exception　of　the　astrologer　you
haven't　a　real　enemy　in　the　villagenor　Marget；　either。　　And　not　even　a
half…enemy　that's　rich　enough　to　chance　eleven　hundred　ducats　to　do　you　a
mean　turn。　　I'll　ask　you　if　that's　so　or　not？〃

He　couldn't　get　around　that　argument；　and　it　cheered　him　up。　　〃But　it
isn't　mine；　you　seeit　isn't　mine；　in　any　case。〃

He　said　it　in　a　wistful　way；　like　a　person　that　wouldn't　be　sorry；　but
glad；　if　anybody　would　contradict　him。

〃It　is　yours；　Father　Peter；　and　we　are　witness　to　it。　　Aren't　we；　boys？〃

〃Yes；　we　areand　we'll　stand　by　it；　too。〃

〃Bless　your　hearts；　you　do　almost　persuade　me；　you　do；　indeed。　　If　I　had
only　a　hundred…odd　ducats　of　it！　　The　house　is　mortgaged　for　it；　and
we've　no　home　for　our　heads　if　we　don't　pay　to…morrow。　　And　that　four
ducats　is　all　we've　got　in　the〃

〃It's　yours；　every　bit　of　it；　and　you've　got　to　take　itwe　are　bail　that
it's　all　right。　　Aren't　we；　Theodor？　　Aren't　we；　Seppi？〃

We　two　said　yes；　and　Nikolaus　stuffed　the　money　back　into　the　shabby　old
wallet　and　made　the　owner　take　it。　　So　he　said　he　would　use　two　hundred
of　it；　for　his　house　was　good　enough　security　for　that；　and　would　put　the
rest　at　interest　till　the　rightful　owner　came　for　it；　and　on　our　side　we
must　sign　a　paper　showing　how　he　got　the　moneya　paper　to　show　to　the
villagers　as　proof　that　he　had　not　got　out　of　his　troubles　dishonestly。




Chapter　4

It　made　immense　talk　next　day；　when　Father　Peter　paid　Solomon　Isaacs　in
gold　and　left　the　rest　of　the　money　with　him　at　interest。　　Also；　there
was　a　pleasant　change；　many　people　called　at　the　house　to　congratulate
him；　and　a　number　of　cool　old　friends　became　kind　and　friendly　again；
and；　to　top　all；　Marget　was　invited　to　a　party。

And　there　was　no　mystery；　Father　Peter　told　the　whole　circumstance　just
as　it　happened；　and　said　he　could　not　account　for　it；　only　it　was　the
plain　hand　of　Providence；　so　far　as　he　could　see。

One　or　two　shook　their　heads　and　said　privately　it　looked　more　like　the
hand　of　Satan；　and　really　that　seemed　a　surprisingly　good　guess　for
ignorant　people　like　that。　　Some　came　slyly　buzzing　around　and　tried　to
coax　us　boys　to　come　out　and　〃tell　the　truth；〃　and　promised　they　wouldn't
ever　tell；　but　only　wanted　to　know　for　their　own　satisfaction；　because
the　whole　thing　was　so　curious。　　They　even　wanted　to　buy　the　secret；　and
pay　money　for　it；　and　if　we　could　have　invented　something　that　would
answerbut　we　couldn't；　we　hadn't　the　ingenuity；　so　we　had　to　let　the
chance　go　by；　and　it　was　a　pity。

We　carried　that　secret　around　without　any　trouble；　but　the　other　one；　the
big　one；　the　splendid　one；　burned　the　very　vitals　of　us；　it　was　so　hot　to
get　out　and　we　so　hot　to　let　it　out　and　astonish　people　with　it。　　But　we
had　to　keep　it　in；　in　fact；　it　kept　itself　in。　　Satan　said　it　would；　and
it　did。　　We　went　off　every　day　and　got　to　ourselves　in　the　woods　so　that
we　could　talk　about　Satan；　and　really　that　was　the　only　subject　we
thought　of　or　cared　anything　about；　and　day　and　night　we　watched　for　him
and　hoped　he　would　come；　and　we　got　more　and　more　impatient　all　the　time。
We　hadn't　any　interest　in　the　other　boys　any　more；　and　wouldn't　take　part
in　their　games　and　enterprises。　　They　seemed　so　tame；　after　Satan；　and
their　doings　so　trifling　and　commonplace　after　his　adventures　in
antiquity　and　the　constellations；　and　his　miracles　and　meltings　and
explosions；　and　all　that。

During　the　first　day　we　were　in　a　state　of　anxiety　on　account　of　one
thing；　and　we　kept　going　to　Father　Peter's　house　on　one　pretext　or
another　to　keep　track　of　it。　　That　was　the　gold　coin；　we　were　afraid　it
would　crumble　and　turn　to　dust；　like　fairy　money。　　If　it　didBut　it
didn't。　　At　the　end　of　the　day　no　complaint　had　been　made　about　it；　so
after　that　we　were　satisfied　that　it　was　real　gold；　and　dropped　the
anxiety　out　of　our　minds。

There　was　a　question　which　we　wanted　to　ask　Father　Peter；　and　finally　we
went　there　the　second　evening；　a　little　diffidently；　after　drawing
straws；　and　I　asked　it　as　casually　as　I　could；　though　it　did　not　sound　as
casual　as　I　wanted；　because　I　didn't　know　how：

〃What　is　the　Moral　Sense；　sir？〃

He　looked　down；　surprised；　over　his　great　spectacles；　and　said；　〃Why；　it
is　the　faculty　which　enables　us　to　distinguish　good　from　evil。〃

It　threw　some　light；　but　not　a　glare；　and　I　was　a　little　disappointed；
also　to　some　degree　embarrassed。　　He　was　waiting　for　me　to　go　on；　so；　in
default　of　anything　else　to　say；　I　asked；　〃Is　it　valuable？〃

〃Valuable？　　Heavens！　lad；　it　is　the　one　thing　that　lifts　man　above　the
beasts　that　perish　and　makes　him　heir　to　immortality！〃

This　did　not　remind　me　of　anything　further　to　say；　so　I　got　out；　with　the
other　boys；　and　we　went　away　with　that　indefinite　sense　you　have　often
had　of　being　filled　but　not　fatted。　　They　wanted　me　to　explain；　but　I　was
tired。

We　passed　out　through　the　parlor；　and　there　was　Marget　at　the　spinnet
teaching　Marie　Lueger。　　So　one　of　the　deserting　pupils　was　back；　and　an
influential　one；　too；　the　others　would　follow。　　Marget　jumped　up　and　ran
and