stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第26章
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〃And that is？〃
〃That you give me the child。〃
Gregorio stood speechless with horror and rage at the window； and the
old man walked across the room to where the infant lay。
〃I have no young son； Gregorio Livadas； and I will take yours。 Not
only will I forgive you the debt； but I will give you money。 I want the
child。〃
〃By God； you shall not touch him！〃 cried Gregorio； suddenly finding
voice for his passion。
He rushed furiously at Amos； gripped him by the throat； and flung him
to the far side of the room。 Then he stood by his child with his arms folded
on his breast； his eyes flashing and his nostrils dilated。 Amos quickly
recovered himself； and； in a voice that scarcely trembled； again demanded
his money。
〃Go away；〃 shouted Gregorio； 〃if you come here again； I will kill you。
Twice now have I saved my boy from falling into your hands。〃
〃I wish only to do you a service。 You are a beggar； and I am rich
enough； ask Heaven； to look after the child。 Why should you abuse me
because I offer to release you from your debts if you will let me take the
child？〃
Gregorio answered brusquely that the Jew should not touch the boy。 〃I
will not have him made a Jew。〃
〃Then you will pay me。〃
〃I will not。 I cannot。〃
〃I shall take measures； my friend； to force you to pay me。 I have not
dealt harshly with you。 I came here to help you； and you have insulted me
and beaten me。〃
〃Because you are a dog of a Jew； and you have tried to steal my son。〃
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A nasty look came into the Jew's eyes；a cold； cunning look；and he
was about to reply when the door opened and Xantippe entered。 She was
well dressed； and wore some ornaments of gold。 Amos turned toward her；
asking the man：
〃This is your wife？〃
But Gregorio told Xantippe rapidly the history of his adventures with
the boy； and the woman； hearing them； moved quietly to the corner where
he slept； and took him in her arms。
The Jew smiled。 〃I see；〃 he said； 〃that madam has money。 She has
taken the advice I gave you the other day。 Now I know that you can pay
me； and if you do not within two days； Gregorio Livadas； you will repent
the insults you have heaped on my head this night。〃
He walked quietly to the corner of the room； where Xantippe sat
nursing the boy； touched the child gently on the forehead with his lips； and
then went out。
For some minutes neither Xantippe nor Gregorio spoke； but the man
rubbed the infant's forehead with his finger as if to wipe out the stain of
the Jew's kiss。
VII XANTIPPE SPEAKS OUT
At last the silence； roused only by the strident buzzing of the
mosquitos； became unendurable。 Gregorio gave a preparatory cough and
opened his lips to speak； but the words refused to be born。 He was
unnerved。 The odious visitor； the wearying day； the memory of Xantippe's
face at the window； combined to make him fearful。 He watched； under his
half…closed lids； his wife crouching on the far side of the boy。 Once or
twice； as he was rubbing the youngster's forehead； his fingers touched
those of his wife as she waved off the mosquitos； but at each contact with
them he shivered and his fears increased。 He tried； vainly； to get his
thoughts straight； and lit a cigarette with apparent calmness； swaggering to
the window； but his legs did not cease to tremble； and the unsteadiness of
his gait caused Xantippe to smile as she watched him。 Resting by the
window； Gregorio widened the lips of the lattice and let in a stream of
moonbeams that rested on wife and child； illumining the dark corner。
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〃Gregorio！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Have you told me all？ Is there nothing else to tell em about our son
and the Jew？〃
Gregorio felt he must now speak； it was not possible to keep silence
longer。 He was pleased that his wife had begun the conversation； for it
seemed easier to answer questions than to frame them。 〃I have told you the
whole story。 There is no more to tell。 It was by accident I found him in the
bazaar； and that devil Amos was bending over him。 I could kill that man。〃
〃What good would that do？〃
〃Fancy if we had lost the boy！ Think of the sacrifices we have made
for him； and they would have been useless。〃
〃Have you made any sacrifices； Gregorio？〃
The question was quietly asked； but there was a ring of irony in the
sound of the voice； and Gregorio； to shun his wife's gaze； moved into the
friendly shadows。 For some minutes he did not answer。 At length； with a
nervous laugh； he replied：
〃Of course。 We have both made sacrifices； great sacrifices。〃
〃It is odd；〃 pursued Xantippe； gently； as if speaking to herself； 〃that
you should so flatter yourself。 You professed to care for me once； you only
regard me now as a slave to earn money for you。〃
〃It is for our son's sake。〃
〃Is it for our son's sake also that you sit with Madam Marx； that you
drink her wine； that you kiss her？〃
Gregorio could not answer。 He felt it were useless to try and explain；
though the reason seemed to him clear enough。
〃I am glad to have the chance；〃 continued Xantippe； 〃of talking to you；
for we may now understand each other。 I have made the greatest sacrifice；
and because it was for our son's sake I forgave you。 I wept； but； as I wept；
I said； 'It is hell for Gregorio too。' But when I looked from the window this
afternoon I knew it was not hell for you。 I knew you did not care what
became of me。 It was pleasant for you to send me away to make money
while you drank and kissed at the Penny…farthing Shop。 I came suddenly
to know that the man had spoken truth。〃
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〃What man？〃 asked Gregorio； huskily。
〃The man！ The man you bade me find。 Because money is not gathered
from the pavements。 You know that； and you sent me out to get money。
When I first came back to you I flung the gold at you； it burned my fingers；
and your eagerness for it stung。 But I did not quite hate you； though his
words had begun to chime in my ears： 'In my country such a husband
would be horsewhipped。' When you were kind I was little more than a dog
you liked to pet。 I thought that was how all women were treated。 I know
differently now。 You will earn money through me； for it is my duty to my
son； but you have earned something else。〃
〃Yes？〃 queried Gregorio。
〃My hate。 Surely you are not surprised？ I have learned what love is
these last few days； have learned what a real man is like。 I know you to be
what he called you； a cur and a coward。 I should never have learned this
but for you； and I am grateful； very grateful。 It is useless to swear and to
threaten me with your fists。 You dare not strike me； because； were you to
injure me； you would lose your money。 You have tried to degrade me； and
you have failed。 I am happier than I have ever been； and far； far wiser。
When a woman learns what a man's love is； she becomes wiser in a day
than if she had studied books for a hundred years。〃
Xantippe ceased speaking and； taking her son in her arms； closed her
eyes and fell asleep quietly； a gentle smile hovering round her lips。
Gregorio scowled at her savagely； and would have liked to strike her；
to beat out his passion on her white breast and shoulders。 But she had
spoken only the truth when she said he dare not touch her。 With impotent
oaths he sought to let off the anger that boiled in him。 He feared to think；
and every word she had uttered made him think in spite of himself。 The
events of sixty hours had destroyed what little of good there was in the
man。 Save only the idolatrous love for his child； he scarcely retained one
ennobling quality。
Little by little his anger cooled； his shame died out of him； and he
began to wonder curiously what manner of man this was whose words had
so stirred his wife。 Wondering he fell asleep； nor did he awaken till the sun
was risen。
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While eating his breakfast he inquired cunningly concerning this wise
teacher of the gospels of love and hate； but Xantippe for a time did not
answer。
〃Is he a Greek？〃
〃No。〃
〃A Frenchman？〃
〃No。〃
〃A German？〃
〃No。〃
Suddenly Gregorio felt a kind of cramp at his heart； and he had to
pause before he put the next question。 He could scarcely explain why he
hesitated； but he called to mind the Paradise cafe and the red… faced
Englishman。 He was ready enough to sacrifice his wife if by so doing
money might be gained； but he felt somehow hurt in his vanity at the idea
of this ugly； slow…witted Northerner usurping his place。 With an effort；
however； he put the question：
〃Is he an Englishman？〃
〃Yes。〃
He was seized with a tumult of anger。 He spoke volubly； talking of the
ignorance of the English； their brutality； their dull brains； their stupid pride。
Xantippe waited till he had finished speaking and then replied quietly：
〃It cannot matter to you。 It is my concern。 You have lost all rights to be
angry with me or those connected with me。〃 Gregorio refused to hear
reason； and explained how he begrudged them their wealth and fame。 〃For
these English are a dull people； and we Greeks are greatly superior。〃
〃I do not agree with you；〃 Xantippe replied。 〃I have learned what a
man is since I have known him； and I have learned to hate you。 You may
have more brainsthat I know nothing of； nor do I care。 He could not
behave as you have behaved； nor have sacrificed me as you have
sacrificed me。 Some of his money
