the voice of the city-第20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！



assiduous　southern　duties。　　I　thought　of　flying；　and

then　I　kept　my　seat；　reflecting　that　many　men　bad　es…

caped　his　ministrations　when　it　seemed　that　nothing

short　of　an　appointment　as　Ambassador　to　Spain

could　save　them　from　him。　　I　had　called　my　brother

Kerner　a　fool　and　was　in　danger　of　hell　fire。　　That

was　nothing；　but　I　would　try　to　save　him　from　Jesse

Holmes。



The　Fool…Killer　got　up　from　his　table　and　came

over　to　ours。　　He　rested　his　hands　upon　it；　and

turned　his　burning；　vindictive　eyes　upon　Kerner；　ig…

noring　me。



〃You　are　a　hopeless　fool；〃　be　said　to　the　artist。

〃Haven't　you　had　enough　of　starvation　yet？　　I　of…

fer　you　one　more　opportunity。　　Give　up　this　girl　and

come　back　to　your　home。　　Refuse；　and　you　must　take

the　consequences。〃



The　Fool…Killer's　threatening　face　was　within　a

foot　of　his　victim's；　but　to　my　horror；　Kerner　made

not　the　slightest　sign　of　being　aware　of　his　presence。



〃We　will　be　married　next　week；〃　be　muttered　ab…

sent…mindedly。　　〃With　my　studio　furniture　and　some

second…hand　stuff　we　can　make　out。〃



〃You　have　decided　your　own　fate；〃　said　the　Fool…

Killer；　in　a　low　but　terrible　voice。　　〃You　may　con…

sider　yourself　as　one　dead。　　You　have　had　your　last

chance。〃



〃In　the　moonlight；〃　went　on　Kerner；　softly；　〃we

will　sit　under　the　skylight　with　our　guitar　and　sing

away　the　false　delights　of　pride　and　money。〃



〃On　your　own　head　be　it；〃　hissed　the　Fool…Killer；

and　my　scalp　prickled　when　I　perceived　that　neither

Kerner's　eyes　nor　his　ears　took　the　slightest　cog…

nizance　of　Jesse　Holmes。　　And　then　I　knew　that　for

some　reason　the　veil　had　been　lifted　for　me　alone；　and

that　I　bad　been　elected　to　save　my　friend　from　de…

struction　at　the　Fool…Killer's　bands。　　Something　of

the　fear　and　wonder　of　it　must　have　showed　itself　in

my　face。



〃Excuse　me；〃　said　Kerner；　with　his　wan；　amiable

smile；　〃was　I　talking　to　myself？　　I　think　it　is　getting

to　be　a　habit　with　me。〃



The　Fool…Killer　turned　and　walked　out　of　Far…

ronils。



〃Wait　here　for　me；〃　said　I；　rising；　〃I　must　speak

to　that　man。　　Had　you　no　answer　for　him？　　Because

you　are　a　fool　must　you　die　like　a　mouse　under　his

foot？　　Could　you　not　utter　one　squeak　in　your　own

defence？



〃You　are　drunk；〃　said　Kerner；　heartlessly。　〃No

one　addressed　me。〃



〃The　destroyer　of　your　mind；〃　said　I；　〃stood

above　you　just　now　and　marked　you　for　his　victim。

You　are　not　blind　or　deaf。〃



〃I　recognized　no　such　person；〃　said　Kerner。　　〃I

have　seen　no　one　but　you　at　this　table。　　Sit　down。

Hereafter　you　shall　have　no　more　absinthe　drips。〃



〃Wait　here；〃　said　I；　furious；　〃if　you　don't　care

for　your　own　life；　I　will　save　it　for　you。〃



I　hurried　out　and　overtook　the　man　in　gray　half…

way　down　the　block。　　He　looked　as　I　bad　seen　him　in

my　fancy　a　thousand　times　…　truculent；　gray　and

awful。　　He　walked　with　the　white　oak　staff；　and　but

for　the　street…sprinkler　the　dust　would　have　been　fly…

ing　under　his　tread。

I　caught　him　by　the　sleeve　and　steered　him　to　a

dark　angle　of　a　building。　　I　knew　he　was　a　myth；　and

I　did　not　want　a　cop　to　see　me　conversing　with　va…

cancy；　for　I　might　land　in　Bellevue　minus　my　silver

matchbox　and　diamond　ring。



〃Jesse　Holmes；〃　said　I；　facing　him　with　apparent

bravery；　〃I　know　you。　　I　have　heard　of　you　all　my

life。　　I　know　now　what　a　scourge　you　have　been　to

your　country。　　Instead　of　killing　fools　you　have　been

murdering　the　youth　and　genius　that　are　necessary　to

make　a　people　live　and　grow　great。　　You　are　a　fool

yourself；　Holmes；　you　began　killing　off　the　brightest

and　best　of　our　countrymen　three　generations　ago；

when　the　old　and　obsolete　standards　of　society　and

honor　and　orthodoxy　were　narrow　and　bigoted。　　You

proved　that　when　you　put　your　murderous　mark　upon

my　friend　Kerner　　the　wisest　chap　I　ever　knew　in

my　life。〃



The　Fool…Killer　looked　at　me　grimly　and　closely。



〃You've　a　queer　jag；〃　said　he；　curiously。　　〃Oh；

yes；　I　see　who　you　are　now。　　You　were　sitting　with

him　at　the　table。　　Well；　if　I'm　not　mistaken；　I　heard

you　call　him　a　fool；　too。〃



〃I　did；〃　said　I。　〃I　delight　in　doing　so。　　It　is

from　envy。　　By　all　the　standards　that　you　know　he　is

the　most　egregious　and　grandiloquent　and　gorgeous

fool　in　all　the　world。　　That's　why　you　want　to　kill

him。〃



〃Would　you　mind　telling　me　who　or　what　you　think

I　am？〃　asked　the　old　man。



I　laughed　boisterously　and　then　stopped　suddenly；

for　I　remembered　that　it　would　not　do　to　be　seen　so

hilarious　in　the　company　of　nothing　but　a　brick

wall。



〃You　are　Jesse　Holmes；　the　Fool…Killer；〃　I　said；

solemnly；　〃and　you　are　going　to　kill　my　friend　Ker…

ner。　　I　don't　know　who　rang　you　up；　but　if　you　do

kill　him　I'll　see　that　you　get　pinched　for　it。　　That

is；〃　I　added；　despairingly；　〃if　I　can　get　a　cop　to　see

you。　　They　have　a　poor　eye　for　mortals；　and　I　think

it　would　take　the　whole　force　to　round　up　a　myth　mur…

derer。〃



〃Well；〃　said　the　Fool…Killer；　briskly；　〃I　must　be

going。　　You　had　better　go　home　and　sleep　it　off。

Good…night。〃



At　this　I　was　moved　by　a　sudden　fear　for　Kerner　to

a　softer　and　more　pleading　mood。　　I　leaned　against

the　gray　man's　sleeve　and　besought　him：



〃Good　Mr。　Fool…Killer；　please　don't　kill　little　Ker…

ner。　　Why　can't　you　go　back　South　and　kill　Con…

gressmen　and　clay…caters　and　let　us　alone？　　Why

don't　you　go　up　on　Fifth　Avenue　and　kill　millionaires

that　keep　their　money　locked　up　and　won't　let　young

fools　marry　because　one　of　'em　lives　on　the　wrong

street？　　Come　and　have　a　drink；　Jesse。　　Will　you

never　get　on　to　your　job？〃



〃Do　you　know　this　girl　that　your　friend　has　made

himself　a　fool　about？〃　asked　the　Fool…Killer。



〃I　have　the　honor；〃　said　I；　〃and　that's　why　I

called　Kerner　a　fool。　　He　is　a　fool　because　he　has

waited　so　long　before　marrying　her。　　He　is　a　fool

because　be　has　been　waiting　in　the　hopes　of　getting

the　consent　of　some　absurd　two…million…dollar…fool

parent　or　something　of　the　sort。〃



〃Maybe；〃　said　the　Fool…Killer　　〃　maybe　I　　I

might　have　looked　at　it　differently。　　Would　you　mind

going　back　to　the　restaurant　and　bringing　your　friend

Kerner　here？〃



〃OH；　what's　the　use；　Jesse；〃　I　yawned。　　〃He　can't

see　you。　　He　didn't　know　you　were　talking　to　him

at　the　table；　You　are　a　fictitious　character；　you

know。〃



〃Maybe　He　can　this　time。　　Will　you　go　fetch

him？〃



〃All　right；〃　said　I；　〃but　I've　a　suspicion　that

you're　not　strictly　sober；　Jesse。　　You　seem　to　be　wa…

vering　and　losing　your　outlines。　　Don't　vanish　before

I　get　back。〃



I　went　back　to　Kerner　and　said：



〃There's　a　man　with　an　invisible　homicidal　mania

waiting　to　see　you　outside。　　I　believe　he　wants　to

murder　you。　　Come　along。　　You　won't　see　him；　so

there's　nothing　to　be　frightened　about。〃



Kerner　looked　anxious。



〃Why；〃　said　be；　〃I　had　no　idea　one　absinthe

would　do　that。　　You'd　better　stick　to　Wurzburger。

I'll　walk　home　with　you。〃



I　led　him　to　Jesse　Holmes's。



〃Rudolf；〃　said　the　Fool…Killer；　〃I'll　give　in。

Bring　her　up　to　the　house。　　Give　me　your　hand；

boy。〃；



〃Good　for　you；　dad；〃　said　Kerner；　shaking　hands

with　the　old　man。　You'll　never　regret　it　after　you

know　her。〃



〃So；　you　did　see　him　when　he　was　talking　to　you

at　the　table？〃　I　asked　Kerner。



〃We　hadn't　spoken　to　each　other　in　a　year；〃　said

Kerner。　　〃It's　all　right　now。〃



I　walked　away。



〃Where　are　you　going？〃　called　Kerner。



〃I　am　going　to　look　for　Jesse　Holmes；〃　I　an…

swered；　with　dignity　and　reserve。









TRANSIENTS　IN　ARCADIA





There　is　a　hotel　on　Broadway　that　has　escaped

discovery　by　the　summer…resort　promoters。　　It　is

deep　and　wide　and　cool。　　Its　rooms　are　finished　in

dark　oak　of　a　low　temperature。　　Home…made　breezes

and　deep…green　shrubbery　give　it　the　delights　without

the　inconveniences　of　the　Adirondacks。　　One　can

mount　its　broad　staircases　or　glide　dreamily　upward

in　its　aerial　elevators；　attended　by　guides　in　brass　but…

tons；　with　a　serene　joy　that　Alpine　climbers　have

never　attained。　　There　is　a　chef　in　its　kitchen　who

will　prepare　for　you　brook　trout　better　than　the　White

Mountains　ever　served；　sea　food　that　would　turn　Old

Point　Comfort　　〃by　Gad；　sah！〃　　green　with

envy；　and　Maine　venison　that　would　melt　the　official

heart　of　a　game　warden。



A　few　have　found　out　this　oasis　in　the　July　desert

of　Manhattan。　　During　that　month　you　will　see　the

hotel's　reduced　array　of　guests　scattered　luxuriously

about　in　the　cool　twilight　of　　its　lofty　dining…room；

gazing　at　one　another　across　the　snowy　waste　of　un…

occupied　tables；　silently　congratulatory。



Superfluous；　watchful；　pneumatically　moving　wait…

ers　hover　near；　supplying　every　want　before　it　is　ex…

pressed。　　The　temperature　is　perpetual　April。　　The

ceiling　is　painted　in　water　colors　to　counterfeit　a　sum…

mer　sky　across　which　delicate　clouds　drift　and　do　not

vanish　as　those　of　nature　do　to　our　regret。



The　pleasing；　distant　roar　of　Broadway　is　trans…

formed　in　the　imagination　of　the　happy　guests　to　the

noise　of　a　waterfall　filling　the　woods　with　its　restful

sound。　　At　every　strange　footstep　the　guests　turn　an

anxious　ear；　fearful　lest　their　retreat　be　discovered

and　invaded　by　the　restless　pleasure…seekers　who　are

forever　hounding　nature　to　her　deepest　lairs。



Thus　in　the　depopulated　caravansary　the　little

band　of　connoisseurs　jealously　bide　themselves　during

the　heated　season；　enjoying　to　the　uttermost　the　de…

lights　of　mountain　and　seashore　that　art　and　skill

have　gathered　and　served　to　them。



In　this　July　came　to　the　hotel　one　whose　card　that

she　sent　to　the　clerk　for　her　name　to　be　registered

read　〃Mme。　　He1oise　D'Arcy　Beaumont。〃



Madame　Beaumont　was　a　guest　such　as　the　Hotel

Lotus　loved。　　She　possessed　the　fine　air　of　the　e1ite；

tempered　and　sweetened　by　a　cordial　graciousness

that　made　the　hotel　employees　her　slaves。　　Bell…boys

fought　for　the　honor　of　answering　her　ring；　the

clerks；　but　for　the　question　of　ownership；　would　have

deeded　to　her　the　hotel　and　its　contents；　the　other

guests　regarded　her　as　the　final　touch　of　feminine

exclusiveness　and　beauty　that　rendered　the　entourage

perfect。



This　super…excellent　guest　rarely　left　the　hotel。

Her　habits　were　consonant　with　the　customs　of　the　dis…

criminating　patrons　of　the　Hotel　Lotus。　　To　enjoy

that　delectable　hostelry　one　must　forego　the　city　as

though　it　were　leagues　away。　　By　night　a　brief　ex…

cursion　to　the　nearby　roofs　is　in　order；　but　during

the　torrid　day　one　remains　in　the　umbrageous　fast…

nesses　of　the　Lotus　as　a　trout　hangs　poised　in　the　pel…

lucid　sanctuaries　of　his　favorite　pool。；



Though　alone　in　the　Hotel　Lotus；　Madame　Beau…

mont　preserved　the　state　of　a　queen　whose　loneliness

was　of　position　only。　　She　breakfasted　at　ten；　a　cool；

sweet；　leisurely；　delica