the moon and sixpence(月球和六便士)-第7章
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difficulty in doing this； since Strickland had struck me as a hefty fellow；
but I did not say anything。 It is always distressing when outraged
morality does not possess the strength of arm to administer direct
chastisement on the sinner。 I was making up my mind to another attempt at
going when Mrs。 Strickland came back。 She had dried her eyes and
powdered her nose。
〃I'm sorry I broke down；〃 she said。 〃I'm glad you didn't go away。〃
She sat down。 I did not at all know what to say。 I felt a certain
shyness at referring to matters which were no concern of mine。 I did not
then know the besetting sin of woman； the passion to discuss her private
affairs with anyone who is willing to listen。 Mrs。 Strickland seemed to
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make an effort over herself。 〃Are people talking about it？〃 she asked。
I was taken aback by her assumption that I knew all about her
domestic misfortune。
〃I've only just come back。 The only person I've seen is Rose
Waterford。〃
Mrs。 Strickland clasped her hands。
〃Tell me exactly what she said。〃 And when I hesitated； she insisted。
〃I particularly want to know。〃
〃You know the way people talk。 She's not very reliable； is she？ She
said your husband had left you。〃
〃Is that all？〃
I did not choose to repeat Rose Waterford's parting reference to a girl
from a tea…shop。 I lied。
〃She didn't say anything about his going with anyone？〃
〃No。〃
〃That's all I wanted to know。〃
I was a little puzzled； but at all events I understood that I might now
take my leave。 When I shook hands with Mrs。 Strickland I told her that if
I could be of any use to her I should be very glad。 She smiled wanly。
〃Thank you so much。 I don't know that anybody can do anything for
me。〃
Too shy to express my sympathy； I turned to say good…bye to the
Colonel。 He did not take my hand。
〃I'm just coming。 If you're walking up Victoria Street； I'll come along
with you。〃
〃All right；〃 I said。 〃Come on。〃
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter IX
〃This is a terrible thing；〃 he said； the moment we got out into the
street。
I realised that he had come away with me in order to discuss once
more what he had been already discussing for hours with his sister…in…law。
〃We don't know who the woman is； you know；〃 he said。 〃All we
know is that the blackguard's gone to Paris。〃
〃I thought they got on so well。〃
〃So they did。 Why； just before you came in Amy said they'd never
had a quarrel in the whole of their married life。 You know Amy。 There
never was a better woman in the world。〃
Since these confidences were thrust on me； I saw no harm in asking a
few questions。
〃But do you mean to say she suspected nothing？〃
〃Nothing。 He spent August with her and the children in Norfolk。 He
was just the same as he'd always been。 We went down for two or three
days； my wife and I； and I played golf with him。 He came back to town
in September to let his partner go away； and Amy stayed on in the country。
They'd taken a house for six weeks； and at the end of her tenancy she
wrote to tell him on which day she was arriving in London。 He answered
from Paris。 He said he'd made up his mind not to live with her any
more。〃
〃What explanation did he give？〃
〃My dear fellow； he gave no explanation。 I've seen the letter。 It
wasn't more than ten lines。〃
〃But that's extraordinary。〃
We happened then to cross the street； and the traffic prevented us from
speaking。 What Colonel MacAndrew had told me seemed very
improbable； and I suspected that Mrs。 Strickland； for reasons of her own；
had concealed from him some part of the facts。 It was clear that a man
after seventeen years of wedlock did not leave his wife without certain
occurrences which must have led her to suspect that all was not well with
their married life。 The Colonel caught me up。
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〃Of course； there was no explanation he could give except that he'd
gone off with a woman。 I suppose he thought she could find that out for
herself。 That's the sort of chap he was。〃
〃What is Mrs。 Strickland going to do？〃
〃Well； the first thing is to get our proofs。 I'm going over to Paris
myself。〃
〃And what about his business？〃
〃That's where he's been so artful。 He's been drawing in his horns for
the last year。〃
〃Did he tell his partner he was leaving？〃
〃Not a word。〃
Colonel MacAndrew had a very sketchy knowledge of business
matters； and I had none at all； so I did not quite understand under what
conditions Strickland had left his affairs。 I gathered that the deserted
partner was very angry and threatened proceedings。 It appeared that
when everything was settled he would be four or five hundred pounds out
of pocket。
〃It's lucky the furniture in the flat is in Amy's name。 She'll have that at
all events。〃
〃Did you mean it when you said she wouldn't have a bob？〃
〃Of course I did。 She's got two or three hundred pounds and the
furniture。〃
〃But how is she going to live？〃
〃God knows。〃
The affair seemed to grow more complicated； and the Colonel； with
his expletives and his indignation； confused rather than informed me。 I
was glad that； catching sight of the clock at the Army and Navy Stores； he
remembered an engagement to play cards at his club； and so left me to cut
across St。 James Park。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter X
A day or two later Mrs。 Strickland sent me round a note asking if I
could go and see her that evening after dinner。 I found her alone。 Her
black dress； simple to austerity； suggested her bereaved condition； and I
was innocently astonished that notwithstanding a real emotion she was
able to dress the part she had to play according to her notions of
seemliness。
〃You said that if I wanted you to do anything you wouldn't mind doing
it；〃 she remarked。
〃It was quite true。〃
〃Will you go over to Paris and see Charlie？〃
〃I？〃
I was taken aback。 I reflected that I had only seen him once。 I did not
know what she wanted me to do。
〃Fred is set on going。〃 Fred was Colonel MacAndrew。 〃But I'm
sure he's not the man to go。 He'll only make things worse。 I don't know
who else to ask。〃
Her voice trembled a little； and I felt a brute even to hesitate。
〃But I've not spoken ten words to your husband。 He doesn't know me。
He'll probably just tell me to go to the devil。〃
〃That wouldn't hurt you；〃 said Mrs。 Strickland； smiling。
〃What is it exactly you want me to do？〃
She did not answer directly。
〃I think it's rather an advantage that he doesn't know you。 You see； he
never really liked Fred； he thought him a fool； he didn't understand
soldiers。 Fred would fly into a passion； and there'd be a quarrel； and
things would be worse instead of better。 If you said you came on my
behalf； he couldn't refuse to listen to you。〃
〃I haven't known you very long；〃 I answered。 〃I don't see how
anyone can be expected to tackle a case like this unless he knows all the
details。 I don't want to pry into what doesn't concern me。 Why don't
you go and see him yourself？〃
〃You forget he isn't alone。〃
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I held my tongue。 I saw myself calling on Charles Strickland and
sending in my card； I saw him come into the room； holding it between
finger and thumb：
〃To what do I owe this honour？〃
〃I've come to see you about your wife。〃
〃Really。 When you are a little older you will doubtless learn the
advantage of minding your own business。 If you will be so good as to
turn your head slightly to the left； you will see the door。 I wish you
good…afternoon。〃
I foresaw that it would be difficult to make my exit with dignity； and I
wished to goodness that I had not returned to London till Mrs。 Strickland
had composed her difficulties。 I stole a glance at her。 She was immersed
in thought。 Presently she looked up at me； sighed deeply； and smiled。
〃It was all so unexpected；〃 she said。 〃We'd been married seventeen
years。 I sever dreamed that Charlie was the sort of man to get infatuated
with anyone。 We always got on very well together。 Of course； I had a
great many interests that he didn't share。〃
〃Have you found out who〃 I did not quite know how to express
myself 〃who the person； who it is he's gone away with？〃
〃No。 No one seems to have an idea。 It's so strange。 Generally when
a man falls in love with someone people see them about together； lunching
or something； and her friends always come and tell the wife。 I had no
warning nothing。 His letter came like a thunderbolt。 I thought he was
perfectly happy。〃
She began to cry； poor thing； and I felt very sorry for her。 But in a little
while she grew calmer。
〃I
