the greek interpreter-第2章

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I　am　an　interpreter；　as　perhaps　my　neighbour　there　has　told　you。　I

interpret　all　languages…or　nearly　all…but　as　I　am　a　Greek　by　birth　and

with　a　Grecian　name；　it　is　with　that　particular　tongue　that　I　am

principally　associated。　For　many　years　I　have　been　the　chief　Greek

interpreter　in　London；　and　my　name　is　very　well　known　in　the　hotels。

　　〃It　happens　not　unfrequently　that　I　am　sent　for　at　strange　hours

by　foreigners　who　get　into　difficulties；　or　by　travellers　who　arrive

late　and　wish　my　services。　I　was　not　surprised；　therefore；　on　Monday

night　when　a　Mr。　Latimer；　a　very　fashionably　dressed　young　man；　came

up　to　my　rooms　and　asked　me　to　accompany　him　in　a　cab　which　was

waiting　at　the　door。　A　Greek　friend　had　come　to　see　him　upon　business；

he　said；　and　as　he　could　speak　nothing　but　his　own　tongue；　the

services　of　an　interpreter　were　indispensable。　He　gave　me　to

understand　that　his　house　was　some　little　distance　off；　in　Kensington；

and　he　seemed　to　be　in　a　great　hurry；　bustling　me　rapidly　into　the　cab

when　we　had　descended　to　the　street。

　　〃I　say　into　the　cab；　but　I　soon　became　doubtful　as　to　whether　it　was

not　a　carriage　in　which　I　found　myself。　It　was　certainly　more　roomy

than　the　ordinary　four…wheeled　disgrace　to　London；　and　the　fittings；

though　frayed；　were　of　rich　quality。　Mr。　Latimer　seated　himself

opposite　to　me　and　we　started　off　through　Charing　Cross　and　up　the

Shaftesbury　Avenue。　We　had　come　out　upon　Oxford　Street　and　I　had

ventured　some　remark　as　to　this　being　a　roundabout　way　to

Kensington；　when　my　words　were　arrested　by　the　extraordinary　conduct

of　my　companion。

　　〃He　began　by　drawing　a　most　formidable…looking　bludgeon　loaded

with　lead　from　his　pocket；　and　switching　it　backward　and　forward

several　times；　as　if　to　test　its　weight　and　strength。　Then　he　placed

it　without　a　word　upon　the　seat　beside　him。　Having　done　this；　he

drew　up　the　windows　on　each　side；　and　I　found　to　my　astonishment

that　they　were　covered　with　paper　so　as　to　prevent　my　seeing　through

them。

　　〃'I　am　sorry　to　cut　off　your　view；　Mr。　Melas；'　said　he。　'The　fact　is

that　I　have　no　intention　that　you　should　see　what　the　place　is　to

which　we　are　driving。　It　might　possibly　be　inconvenient　to　me　if　you

could　find　your　way　there　again。'

　　〃As　you　can　imagine；　I　was　utterly　taken　aback　by　such　an　address。

My　companion　was　a　powerful；　broad…shouldered　young　fellow；　and；　apart

from　the　weapon；　I　should　not　have　had　the　slightest　chance　in　a

struggle　with　him。

　　〃'This　is　very　extraordinary　conduct；　Mr。　Latimer；'　I　stammered。

'You　must　be　aware　that　what　you　are　doing　is　quite　illegal。'

　　〃'It　is　somewhat　of　a　liberty；　no　doubt；'　said　he；　'but　we'll　make

it　up　to　you。　I　must　warn　you；　however；　Mr。　Melas；　that　if　at　any　time

to…night　you　attempt　to　raise　an　alarm　or　do　anything　which　is　against

my　interest；　you　will　find　it　a　very　serious　thing。　I　beg　you　to

remember　that　no　one　knows　where　you　are；　and　that；　whether　you　are　in

this　carriage　or　in　my　house；　you　are　equally　in　my　power。'

　　〃His　words　were　quiet　but　he　had　a　rasping　way　of　saying　them；　which

was　very　menacing。　I　sat　in　silence　wondering　what　on　earth　could　be

his　reason　for　kidnapping　me　in　this　extraordinary　fashion。　Whatever

it　might　be；　it　was　perfectly　clear　that　there　was　no　possible　use

in　my　resisting；　and　that　I　could　only　wait　to　see　what　might　befall。

　　〃For　nearly　two　hours　we　drove　without　my　having　the　least　clue　as

to　where　we　were　going。　Sometimes　the　rattle　of　the　stones　told　of　a

paved　causeway；　and　at　others　our　smooth；　silent　course　suggested

asphalt；　but；　save　by　this　variation　in　sound；　there　was　nothing　at

all　which　could　in　the　remotest　way　help　me　to　form　a　guess　as　to

where　we　were。　The　paper　over　each　window　was　impenetrable　to　light；

and　a　blue　curtain　was　drawn　across　the　glasswork　in　front。　It　was　a

quarter　past　seven　when　we　left　Pall　Mall；　and　my　watch　showed　me　that

it　was　ten　minutes　to　nine　when　we　at　last　came　to　a　standstill。　My

companion　let　down　the　window；　and　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　low；　arched

doorway　with　a　lamp　burning　above　it。　As　I　was　hurried　from　the

carriage　it　swung　open；　and　I　found　myself　inside　the　house；　with　a

vague　impression　of　a　lawn　and　trees　on　each　side　of　me　as　I

entered。　Whether　these　were　private　grounds；　however；　or　bona…fide

country　was　more　than　I　could　possibly　venture　to　say。

　　〃There　was　a　coloured　gaslamp　inside　which　was　turned　so　low　that

I　could　see　little　save　that　the　hall　was　of　some　size　and　hung　with

pictures。　In　the　dim　light　I　could　make　out　that　the　person　who　had

opened　the　door　was　a　small；　mean…looking；　middle…aged　man　with

rounded　shoulders。　As　he　turned　towards　us　the　glint　of　the　light

showed　me　that　he　was　wearing　glasses。

　　〃'Is　this　Mr。　Melas；　Harold？'　said　he。

　　〃'Yes。'

　　〃'Well　done；　well　done！　No　ill…will；　Mr。　Melas；　I　hope；　but　we　could

not　get　on　without　you。　If　you　deal　fair　with　us　you'll　not　regret　it；

but　if　you　try　any　tricks；　God　help　you！'　He　spoke　in　a　nervous；　jerky

fashion；　and　with　little　giggling　laughs　in　between；　but　somehow　he

impressed　me　with　fear　more　than　the　other。

　　〃'What　do　you　want　with　me？'　I　asked。

　〃'Only　to　ask　a　few　questions　of　a　Greek　gentleman　who　is　visiting

us；　and　to　let　us　have　the　answers。　But　say　no　more　than　you　are

told　to　say；　or…'　here　came　the　nervous　giggle　again…'you　had　better

never　have　been　born。'

　　　〃As　he　spoke　he　opened　a　door　and　showed　the　way　into　a　room

which　appeared　to　be　very　richly　furnished；　but　again　the　only　light

was　afforded　by　a　single　lamp　half…turned　down。　The　chamber　was

certainly　large；　and　the　way　in　which　my　feet　sank　into　the　carpet

as　I　stepped　across　it　told　me　of　its　richness。　I　caught　glimpses　of

velvet　chairs；　a　high　white　marble　mantelpiece；　and　what　seemed　to

be　a　suit　of　Japanese　armour　at　one　side　of　it。　There　was　a　chair　just

under　the　lamp；　and　the　elderly　man　motioned　that　I　should　sit　in

it。　The　younger　had　left　us；　but　he　suddenly　returned　through

another　door；　leading　with　him　a　gentleman　clad　in　some　sort　of

loose　dressing…gown　who　moved　slowly　towards　us。　As　he　came　into　the

circle　of　dim　light　which　enabled　me　to　see　him　more　clearly　I　was

thrilled　with　horror　at　his　appearance。　He　was　deadly　pale　and

terribly　emaciated；　with　the　protruding；　brilliant　eyes　of　a　man　whose

spirit　was　greater　than　his　strength。　But　what　shocked　me　more　than

any　signs　of　physical　weakness　was　that　his　face　was　grotesquely

criss…crossed　with　sticking…plaster　and　that　one　large　pad　of　it　was

fastened　over　his　mouth。

　　〃'Have　you　the　slate；　Harold？'　cried　the　older　man；　as　this

strange　being　fell　rather　than　sat　down　into　a　chair。　'Are　his　hands

loose？　Now；　then；　give　him　the　pencil。　You　are　to　ask　the　questions；

Mr。　Melas；　and　he　will　write　the　answers。　Ask　him　first　of　all　whether

he　is　prepared　to　sign　the　papers？'

　　〃The　man's　eyes　flashed　fire。

　　〃'Never！'　he　wrote　in　Greek　upon　the　slate。

　　〃'On　no　conditions？'　I　asked　at　the　bidding　of　our　tyrant。

　　〃'Only　if　I　see　her　married　in　my　presence　by　a　Greek　priest　whom

I　know。'

　　〃The　man　giggled　in　his　venomous　way。

　　〃'You　know　what　awaits　you；　then？'

　　〃'I　care　nothing　for　myself。'

　　〃These　are　samples　of　the　questions　and　answers　which　made　up　our

strange　half…spoken；　half…written　conversation。　Again　and　again　I

had　to　ask　him　whether　he　would　give　in　and　sign　the　documents。

Again　and　again　I　had　the　same　indignant　reply。　But　soon　a　happy

thought　came　to　me。　I　took　to　adding　on　little　sentences　of　my　own

to　each　question；　innocent　ones　at　first；　to　test　whether　either　of

our　companions　knew　anything　of　the　matter；　and　then；　as　I　found

that　they　showed　no　sign　I　played　a　more　dangerous　game。　Our

conversation　ran　something　like　this：

　　〃'You　can　do　no　good　by　this　obstinacy。　Who　are　you？'

　　〃'I　care　not。　I　am　a　stranger　in　London。'

　　〃'Your　fate　will　be　on　your　own　head。　How　long　have　you　been　here？'

　　〃'Let　it　be　so。　Three　weeks。'

　　〃'The　property　can　never　be　yours。　What　ails　you？'

　　〃'It　shall　not　go　to　villains。　They　are。'

　　〃'You　shall　go　free　if　you　sign。　What　house　is　this？'

　　〃'I　will　never　sign。　I　do　not　know。'

　　〃'You　are　not　doing　her　any　service。　What　is　your　name？'

　　〃'Let　me　hear　her　say　so。　Kratides。'

　　〃'You　shall　see　her　if　you　sign。　Where　are　you　from？'

　　〃'Then　I　shall　never　see　her。　Athens。'

　　〃Another　five　minutes；　Mr。　Holmes；　and　I　should　have　wormed　out

the　whole　story　under　their　very　noses。　My　very　next　question　might

have　cleared　the　matter　up；　but　at　that　instant　the　door　opened　and

a　woman　stepped　into　the　room。　I　could　not　see　her　clearly　enough　to

know　more　than　that　she　was　tall　and　graceful　with　black　hair；　and

clad　in　some　sort　of　loose　white　gown。

　　〃'Harold；'　said　she；　speaking　English　with　a　broken　accent。　'I　could

not　stay　away　longer。　It　is　so　lonely　up　there　with　only…Oh；　my　God；

it　is　Paul！'

　　〃These　last　words　were　in　Greek；　and　at　the　same　instant　the　man

with　a　convulsive　effort　tore　the　plaster　from　his　lips；　and　screaming

out　'Sophy！　Sophy！'　rushed　into　the　woman's　arms。　Their　embrace　was

but　for　an　instant；　however；　for　the　younger　man　seized　the　woman

and　pushed　her　out　of　the　room；　while　the　elder　easily　overpowered　his

emaciated　victim　and　dragged　him　away　through　the　other　door。　For　a

moment　I　was　left　alone　in　the　room；　and　I　sprang　to　my　feet　with　some

vague　idea　that　I　might　in　some　way　get　a　clue　to　what　this　house

was　in　which　I　found　myself。　Fortunately；　however；　I　took　no　steps；

for　looking　up　I　saw　that　the　older　man　was　standing　in　the　doorway；

with　his　eyes　fixed　upon　me。

　　〃'That　will　do；　Mr。　Melas；'　said　he。　'You　perceive　that　we　have

taken　you　into　our　confidence　over　some　very　private　business。　We

should　not　have　troubled　you；　only　that　our　friend　who　speaks　Greek

and　who　began　these　negotiations　has　been　forced　to　return　to　the

East。　It　was　quite　necessary　for　us　to　find　someone　to　take　his　place；

and　we　were　fortunate　in　hearing　of　your　powers。'

　　〃I　bowed。

　　〃'There　are　five　sovereigns　here；'　said　he；　walking　up　to　me；　'which

will；　I　hope；　be　a　sufficient　fee。　But　remember；'　he　added；　tapping　me

lightly　on　the　chest　and　giggling；　'if　you　speak　to　a　human　soul　about

this…one　human　soul；　mind…well；　may　God　have　mercy　upon　your　soul！'

　　〃I　cannot　tell　you　the　loathing　and　horror　with　which　this

insignificant…looking　man　inspired　me。　I　could　see　him　better　now　as

the　lamp…light　shone　upon　him。　His　features　were　peaky　and　sallow；　and

his　little　pointed　beard　was　thready　and　ill…nourished。　He　pushed

his　face　forward　as　he　spoke　and　his　lips　and　eyelids　were　continually

twitching　like　a　man　with　St。　Vitus's　dance。　I　could　not　help　thinking

that　his　strange；　catchy　little　laugh　was　also　a　symptom　of　some

nervous　malady。　The　terror　of　his　face　lay　in　his　eyes；　however；　steel

gray；　and　glistening　coldly　with　a　malignant　inexorable　cruelty　in

their　depths。

　　〃'We　shall　know　if　you　speak　of　this；'　said　he。　'We　have　our　own

means　of　information。　Now　you　will　find　the　carriage　waiting；　and　my

friend　w