pgw.adamselindistress-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！


　In　the　Middle　Ages；　for　example；　this　girl　would　have　been　a　Damsel；　and　in　that　happy　time　practically　everybody　whose　technical　rating　was　that　of　Damsel　was　in　distress　and　only　too　willing　to　waive　the　formalities　in　return　for　services　rendered　by　the　casual　passer…by。　But　the　twentieth　century　is　a　prosaic　age；　when　girls　are　merely　girls　and　have　no　troubles　at　all。　　Were　he　to　stop　this　girl　in　brown　and　assure　her　that　his　aid　and　fort　were　at　her　disposal；　she　would　undoubtedly　call　that　large　policeman　from　across　the　way；　and　the　romance　would　begin　and　end　within　the　space　of　thirty　seconds；　or；　if　the　policeman　were　a　quick　mover；　rather　less。
　Better　to　dismiss　dreams　and　return　to　the　practical　side　of　life　by　buying　the　evening　papers　from　the　shabby　individual　beside　him；　who　had　just　thrust　an　early　edition　in　his　face。　After　all　notices　are　notices；　even　when　the　heart　is　aching。　George　felt　in　his　pocket　for　the　necessary　money；　found　emptiness；　and　remembered　that　he　had　left　all　his　ready　funds　at　his　hotel。　It　was　just　one　of　the　things　he　might　have　expected　on　a　day　like　this。
　The　man　with　the　papers　had　the　air　of　one　whose　business　is　conducted　on　purely　cash　principles。　There　was　only　one　thing　to　be　done；　return　to　the　hotel；　retrieve　his　money；　and　try　to　forget　the　weight　of　the　world　and　its　cares　in　lunch。　And　from　the　hotel　he　could　despatch　the　two　or　three　cables　which　he　wanted　to　send　to　New　York。
　The　girl　in　brown　was　quite　close　now；　and　George　was　enabled　to　get　a　clearer　glimpse　of　her。　She　more　than　fulfilled　the　promise　she　had　given　at　a　distance。　Had　she　been　constructed　to　his　own　specifications；　she　would　not　have　been　more　acceptable　in　George's　sight。　And　now　she　was　going　out　of　his　life　for　ever。　With　an　overwhelming　sense　of　pathos；　for　there　is　no　pathos　more　bitter　than　that　of　parting　from　someone　we　have　never　met；　George　hailed　a　taxicab　which　crawled　at　the　side　of　the　road；　and；　with　all　the　refrains　of　all　the　sentimental　song　hits　he　had　ever　posed　ringing　in　his　ears；　he　got　in　and　passed　away。
　〃A　rotten　world；〃　he　mused；　as　the　cab；　after　proceeding　a　couple　of　yards；　came　to　a　standstill　in　a　block　of　the　traffic。　　〃A　dull；　flat　bore　of　a　world；　in　which　nothing　happens　or　ever　will　happen。　Even　when　you　take　a　cab　it　just　sticks　and　doesn't　move。〃
　At　this　point　the　door　of　the　cab　opened；　and　the　girl　in　brown　jumped　in。
　〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　she　said　breathlessly；　〃but　would　you　mind　hiding　me；　please。〃
　
　CHAPTER　3。
　
　George　hid　her。　He　did　it；　too；　without　wasting　precious　time　by　asking　questions。　In　a　situation　which　might　well　have　thrown　the　quickest…wined　of　men　off　his　balance；　he　acted　with　promptitude；　intelligence　and　despatch。　The　fact　is；　George　had　for　years　been　an　assiduous　golfer；　and　there　is　no　finer　school　for　teaching　concentration　and　a　strict　attention　to　the　matter　in　hand。　Few　crises；　however　unexpected；　have　the　power　to　disturb　a　man　who　has　so　conquered　the　weakness　of　the　flesh　as　to　have　trained　himself　to　bend　his　left　knee；　raise　his　left　heel；　swing　his　arms　well　out　from　the　body；　twist　himself　into　the　shape　of　a　corkscrew　and　use　the　muscle　of　the　wrist；　at　the　same　time　keeping　his　head　still　and　his　eye　on　the　ball。　It　is　estimated　that　there　are　twenty…three　important　points　to　be　borne　in　mind　simultaneously　while　making　a　drive　at　golf；　and　to　the　man　who　has　mastered　the　art　of　remembering　them　all　the　task　of　hiding　girls　in　taxicabs　is　mere　child's　play。　To　pull　down　the　blinds　on　the　side　of　the　vehicle　nearest　the　kerb　was　with　George　the　work　of　a　moment。　Then　he　leaned　out　of　the　centre　window　in　such　a　manner　as　pletely　to　screen　the　interior　of　the　cab　from　public　view。
　〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　murmured　a　voice　behind　him。　It　seemed　to　e　from　the　floor。
　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　George；　trying　a　sort　of　vocal　chip…shot　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth；　designed　to　lift　his　voice　backwards　and　lay　it　dead　inside　the　cab。
　He　gazed　upon　Piccadilly　with　eyes　from　which　the　scales　had　fallen。　Reason　told　him　that　he　was　still　in　Piccadilly。　Otherwise　it　would　have　seemed　incredible　to　him　that　this　could　be　the　same　street　which　a　moment　before　he　had　passed　judgment　upon　and　found　flat　and　uninteresting。　True；　in　its　salient　features　it　had　altered　little。　The　same　number　of　stodgy…looking　people　moved　up　and　down。　The　buildings　retained　their　air　of　not　having　had　a　bath　since　the　days　of　the　Tudors。　　The　east　wind　still　blew。　But；　though　superficially　the　same；　in　reality　Piccadilly　had　altered　pletely。　Before　it　had　been　just　Piccadilly。　Now　it　was　a　golden　street　in　the　City　of　Romance；　a　main　thoroughfare　of　Bagdad；　one　of　the　principal　arteries　of　the　capital　of　Fairyland。　A　rose…coloured　mist　swam　before　George's　eyes。　His　spirits；　so　low　but　a　few　moments　back；　soared　like　a　good　niblick　shot　out　of　the　bunker　of　Gloom。　　The　years　fell　away　from　him　till；　in　an　instant；　from　being　a　rather　poorly　preserved；　liverish　greybeard　of　sixty…five　or　so；　he　became　a　sprightly　lad　of　twenty…one　in　a　world　of　springtime　and　flowers　and　laughing　brooks。　In　other　words；　taking　it　by　and　large；　George　felt　pretty　good。　The　impossible　had　happened；　Heaven　had　sent　him　an　adventure；　and　he　didn't　care　if　it　snowed。
　It　was　possibly　the　rose…coloured　mist　before　his　eyes　that　prevented　him　from　observing　the　hurried　approach　of　a　faultlessly　attired　young　man；　aged　about　twenty…one；　who　during　George's　preparations　for　ensuring　privacy　in　his　cab　had　been　galloping　in　pursuit　in　a　resolute　manner　that　suggested　a　well…dressed　bloodhound　somewhat　overfed　and　out　of　condition。　　Only　when　this　person　stopped　and　began　to　pant　within　a　few　inches　of　his　face　did　he　bee　aware　of　his　existence。
　〃You；　sir！〃　said　the　bloodhound；　removing　a　gleaming　silk　hat；　mopping　a　pink　forehead；　and　replacing　the　luminous　superstructure　once　more　in　position。　〃You；　sir！〃
　Whatever　may　be　said　of　the　possibility　of　love　at　first　sight；　in　which　theory　George　was　now　a　confirmed　believer；　there　can　be　no　doubt　that　an　exactly　opposite　phenomenon　is　of　frequent　occurrence。　After　one　look　at　some　people　even　friendship　is　impossible。　Such　a　one；　in　George's　opinion；　was　this　gurgling　excrescence　underneath　the　silk　hat。　He　prised　in　his　single　person　practically　all　the　qualities　which　George　disliked　most。　He　was；　for　a　young　man；　extraordinarily　obese。　Already　a　second　edition　of　his　chin　had　been　published；　and　the　perfectly…cut　morning　coat　which　encased　his　upper　section　bulged　out　in　an　opulent　semi…circle。　He　wore　a　little　moustache；　which　to　George's　prejudiced　eye　seemed　more　a　plaint　than　a　moustache。　His　face　was　red；　his　manner　dictatorial；　and　he　was　touched　in　the　wind。　Take　him　for　all　in　all　he　looked　like　a　bit　of　bad　news。
　George　had　been　educated　at　Lawrenceville　and　Harvard；　and　had　subsequently　had　the　privilege　of　mixing　socially　with　many　of　New　York's　most　prominent　theatrical　managers；　so　he　knew　how　to　behave　himself。　No　Vere　de　Vere　could　have　exhibited　greater　repose　of　manner。
　〃And　what；〃　he　inquired　suavely；　leaning　a　little　further　out　of　the　cab；　〃is　eating　you；　Bill？〃
　A　messenger　boy；　two　shabby　men　engaged　in　non…essential　industries；　and　a　shop　girl　paused　to　observe　the　scene。　Time　was　not　of　the　essence　to　these　confirmed　sightseers。　The　shop　girl　was　late　already；　so　it　didn't　matter　if　she　was　any　later；　the　messenger　boy　had　nothing　on　hand　except　a　message　marked　〃Important：　Rush〃；　and　as　for　the　two　shabby　men；　their　only　immediate　plans　consisted　of　a　vague　intention　of　getting　to　some　public　house　and　leaning　against　the　wall；　so　George's　time　was　their　time。　One　of　the　pair　put　his　head　on　one　side　and　said：　〃What　ho！〃；　the　other　picked　up　a　cigar　stub　from　the　gutter　and　began　to　smoke。
　〃A　young　lady　just　got　into　your　cab；〃　said　the　stout　young　man。
　〃Surely　not？〃　said　George。
　〃What　the　devil　do　you　meansurely　not？〃
　〃I've　been　in　the　cab　all　the　time；　and　I　should　have　noticed　it。〃
　At　this　juncture　the　block　in　the　traffic　was　relieved；　and　the　cab　bowled　smartly　on　for　some　fifty　yards　when　it　was　again　halted。　George；　protruding　from　the　window　like　a　snail；　was　entertained　by　the　spectacle　of　the　pursuit。　The　hunt　was　up。　　Short　of　throwing　his　head　up　and　baying；　the　stout　young　man　behaved　exactly　as　a　bloodhound　in　similar　circumstances　would　have　conducted　itself。　He　broke　into　a　jerky　gallop；　attended　by　his　self…appointed　associates；　and；　considering　that　the　young　man　was　so　stout；　that　the　messenger　boy　considered　it　unprofessional　to　hurry；　that　the　shop　girl　had　doubts　as　to　whether　sprinting　was　quite　ladylike；　and　that　the　two　Bohemians　were　moving　at　a　quicker　gait　than　a　shuffle　for　the　first　occasion　in　eleven　years；　the　cavalcade　made　good　time。　The　cab　was　still　stationary　when　they　arrived　in　a　body。
　〃Here　he　is；　guv'nor；〃　said　the　messenger　boy；　removing　a　bead　of　perspiration　with　the　rush　message。
　〃Here　he　is；　guv'nor；〃　said　the　non…smoking　Bohemian。　　〃What　oh！〃
　〃Here　I　am！〃　agreed　George　affably。　〃And　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃　　The　smoker　spat　appreciatively　at　a　passing　dog。　The　point　seemed　to　him　well　taken。　Not　for　many　a　day　had　he　so　enjoyed　himself。　In　an　arid　world　containing　too　few　goes　of　gin　and　too　many　policemen；　a　world　in　which　the　poor　were　oppressed　and　could　seldom　even　enjoy　a　quiet　cigar　without　having　their　fingers　trodden　upon；　he　found　himself　for　the　moment　contented；　happy；　and　expectant。　This　looked　like　a　row　between　toffs；　and　of　all　things　which　most　intrigued　him　a　row　between　toffs　ranked　highest。
　〃R！〃　he　said　approvingly。　〃Now　you're　torkin'！〃
　The　shop　girl　had　espied　an　acquaintance　in　the　crowd。　She　gave　tongue。
　〃Mordee！　Cummere！　Cummere　quick！　Sumfin'　hap'nin'！〃　Maudie；　acpanied　by　perhaps　a　dozen　more　of　London's　millions；　added　herself　to　the　audience。　These　all　belonged　to　the　class　which　will　gather　round　and　watch　silently　while　a　motorist　mends　a　tyre。　They　are　not　impatient。　They　do　not　call　for　rapid　and　continuous　action。　A　mere　hole　in　the　ground；　which　of　all　sights　is　perhaps　the　least　vivid　and　dramatic；　is　enough　to　grip　their　attention　for　hours　at　a　time。　They　stared　at　George　and　George's　cab　with　unblinking　gaze。　They　did　not　know　what　would　happen　or　when　it　would　happen；　but　they　intended　to　wait　till　something　did　happen。　It　might　be　for　years　or　it　might　be　for　ever；　but　they　meant　to　be　there　when　things　began　to　occur。
　Speculations　became　audible。
　〃Wot　is　it？　'Naccident？〃
　〃Nah！　Gent　'ad　'is　pocket　picked！〃
　〃Two　toffs　'ad　a　scrap！〃
　〃Feller　bilked　the　cabman！〃
　A　sceptic　made　a　cynical　suggestion。
　〃They're　doin'　of　it　for　the　pictures。〃
　The　idea　gained　instant　popularity。
　〃Jear　that？　It's　a　fillum！〃
　〃Wot　o'；　Charlie！〃
　〃The　kemerer's　'idden　in　the　keb。〃
　〃Wot'll　they　be　up　to　next！〃
　A　red…nosed　spectator　with　a　tray　of　collar…studs　harnessed　to　his　stomach　started　another　school　of　thought。　He　spoke　with　decision　as　one　having　authority。
　〃Nothin'　of　the　blinkin'　kind！　The　fat　'un's　bin　'avin'　one　or　two　around　the　corner；　and　it's　gorn　and　got　into　'is　'ead！〃
　The　driver　of　the　cab；　who　till　now　had　been　ostentatiously　unaware　that　ther