drift from two shores(漂流)-第25章
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walk？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Stand up for fifteen minutes？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Then I'll take
him。 He'll do for the last scene in the 'Destruction of Sennacherib'it's a
tremendous thing； you know。 We'll have two thousand people on the
stage。〃 I was a trifle alarmed at the title； and ventured to suggest
（without betraying my poor friend's secret that he could not actively
engage in the 〃Destruction of Sennacherib；〃 and that even the spectacle of
it might be too much for him。 〃Needn't see it at all；〃 said my managerial
friend； 〃put him in front； nothing to do but march in and march out； and
dodge curtain。〃
He was engaged。 I admit I was at times haunted by grave doubts as
to whether I should not have informed the manager of his physical
condition； and the possibility that he might some evening perpetrate a real
tragedy on the mimic stage； but on the first performance of 〃The
Destruction of Sennacherib；〃 which I conscientiously attended； I was
somewhat relieved。 I had often been amused with the placid way in
which the chorus in the opera invariably received the most astounding
information； and witnessed the most appalling tragedies by poison or the
block； without anything more than a vocal protest or command； always
delivered to the audience and never to the actors； but I think my poor
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friend's utter impassiveness to the wild carnage and the terrible exhibitions
of incendiarism that were going on around him transcended even that。
Dressed in a costume that seemed to be the very soul of anachronism； he
stood a little outside the proscenium； holding a spear； the other hand
pressed apparently upon the secret within his breast； calmly surveying；
with his waxen face； the gay auditorium。 I could not help thinking that
there was a certain pride visible even in his placid features； as of one who
was conscious that at any moment he might change this simulated
catastrophe into real terror。 I could not help saying this to the Doctor；
who was with me。 〃Yes；〃 he said with professional exactitude； 〃when it
happens he'll throw his arms up above his head； utter an ejaculation； and
fall forward on his face；it's a singular thing； they always fall forward on
their face；and they'll pick up the man as dead as Julius Caesar。〃
After that； I used to go night after night； with a certain hideous
fascination； but； while it will be remembered the 〃Destruction of
Sennacherib〃 had a tremendous run； it will also be remembered that not a
single life was really lost during its representation。
It was only a few weeks after this modest first appearance on the
boards of 〃The Man with an Aneurism；〃 that； happening to be at dinner
party of practical business men； I sought to interest them with the details
of the above story； delivered with such skill and pathos as I could
command。 I regret to say that； as a pathetic story； it for a moment
seemed to be a dead failure。 At last a prominent banker sitting next to me
turned to me with the awful question： 〃Why don't your friend try to realize
on his life insurance？〃 I begged his pardon； I didn't quite understand。
〃Oh； discount； sell out。 Look here（after a pause）。 Let him assign his
policy to me； it's not much of a risk； on your statement。 WellI'll give him
his five thousand dollars； clear。〃
And he did。 Under the advice of this cool…headedI think I may add
warm…heartedbanker； 〃The Man with an Aneurism〃 invested his money
in the name of and for the benefit of his wife in certain securities that paid
him a small but regular stipend。 But he still continued upon the boards of
the theatre。
By reason of some business engagements that called me away from the
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city； I did not see my friend the physician for three months afterward。
When I did I asked tidings of The Man with the Aneurism。 The Doctor's
kind face grew sad。 〃I'm afraidthat is； I don't exactly know whether I've
good news or bad。 Did you ever see his wife？〃
I never had。
〃Well； she was younger than he； and rather attractive。 One of those
doll…faced women。 You remember； he settled that life insurance policy
on her and the children： she might have waited； she didn't。 The other day
she eloped with some fellow； I don't remember his name； with the children
and the five thousand dollars。〃
〃And the shock killed him；〃 I said with poetic promptitude。
〃Nothat isnot yet； I saw him yesterday；〃 said the Doctor； with
conscientious professional precision； looking over his list of calls。
〃Well； where is the poor fellow now？〃
〃He's still at the theatre。 James； if these powders are called for； you'll
find them； here in this envelope。 Tell Mrs。 Blank I'll be there at seven
and she can give the baby this until I come。 Say there's no danger。 These
women are an awful bother！ Yes； he's at the theatre yet。 Which way are
you going？ Down town？ Why can't you step into my carriage； and I'll
give you a lift； and we'll talk on the way down？ Wellhe's at the theatre
yet。 And anddo you remember the 'Destruction of Sennacherib？' No？
Yes you do。 You remember that woman in pink； who pirouetted in the
famous ballet scene！ You don't？ Why； yes you do！ Well； I imagine； of
course I don't know； it's only a summary diagnosis； but I imagine that our
friend with the aneurism has attached himself to her。〃
〃Doctor； you horrify me。〃
〃There are more things； Mr。 Poet； in heaven and earth than are yet
dreamt of in your philosophy。 Listen。 My diagnosis may be wrong； but
that woman called the other day at my office to ask about him； his health；
and general condition。 I told her the truthand she FAINTED。 It was
about as dead a faint as I ever saw； I was nearly an hour in bringing her
out of it。 Of course it was the heat of the room； her exertions the
preceding week； and I prescribed for her。 Queer； wasn't it？ Now； if I
were a writer； and had your faculty； I'd make something out of that。〃
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〃But how is his general health？〃
〃Oh； about the same。 He can't evade what will come； you know； at
any moment。 He was up here the other day。 Why； the pulsation was as
plainwhy； the entire arch of the aorta What！ you get out here？
Good…by。〃
Of course no moralist； no man writing for a sensitive and strictly
virtuous public； could further interest himself in this man。 So I dismissed
him at once from my mind； and returned to the literary contemplation of
virtue that was clearly and positively defined； and of Sin； that invariably
commenced with a capital letter。 That this man； in his awful condition；
hovering on the verge of eternity； should allow himself to be attracted by
but it was horrible to contemplate。
Nevertheless； a month afterwards； I was returning from a festivity with
my intimate friend Smith； my distinguished friend Jobling； my most
respectable friend Robinson； and my wittiest friend Jones。 It was a clear；
star…lit morning； and we seemed to hold the broad； beautiful avenue to
ourselves； and I fear we acted as if it were so。 As we hilariously passed
the corner of Eighteenth Street； a coupe rolled by； and I suddenly heard my
name called from its gloomy depths。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the Doctor； as his driver drew up by the
sidewalk； 〃but I've some news for you。 I've just been to see our poor
friend 。 Of course I was too late。 He was gone in a flash。〃
〃What！ dead？〃
〃As Pharaoh！ In an instant； just as I said。 You see； the rupture took
place in the descending arch of〃
〃But； Doctor！〃
〃It's a queer story。 Am I keeping you from your friends？ No？ Well；
you see shethat woman I spoke ofhad written a note to him based on
what I had told her。 He got it； and dropped in his dressing…room； dead as
a herring。〃
〃How could she have been so cruel； knowing his condition？ She
might； with woman's tact； have rejected him less abruptly。〃
〃Yes； but you're all wrong。 By Jove！ she ACCEPTED him！ was
willing to marry him！〃
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〃What？〃
〃Yes。 Don't you see？ It was joy that killed him。 Gad； we never
thought of THAT！ Queer； ain't it？ See here； don't you think you might
make a story out of it？〃
〃But； Doctor； it hasn't got any moral。〃
〃Humph！ That's so。 Good morning。 Drive on； John。〃
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MY FRIEND； THE TRAMP
I had been sauntering over the clover downs of a certain noted New
England seaport。 It was a Sabbath morning； so singularly reposeful and
gracious； so replete with the significance of the seventh day of rest； that
even the Sabbath bells ringing a mile away over the salt marshes had little
that was monitory； mandatory； or even supplicatory in their drowsy voices。
Rather they seemed to call from their cloudy towers； like some renegade
muezzin： 〃Sleep is better than prayer； sleep on； O sons of the Puritans！
Slumber still； O deacons and vestrymen！ Let； oh let those feet that are
swift
