the pursuit of the house-boat-第9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！



〃I　second　the　motion；〃　said　Ophelia；　〃with　the　amendment　that　Madame　Recamier　be　appointed　chair…lady　of　another　sub…committee；　on　entertainment。〃

The　amendment　was　accepted；　and　the　motion　put。　　It　was　carried　with　an　enthusiastic　aye；　and　the　organization　was　complete。

The　various　committees　retired　to　the　several　corners　of　the　room　to　discuss　their　individual　lines　of　action；　when　a　shadow　was　observed　to　obscure　the　moonlight　which　had　been　streaming　in　through　the　window。　　The　faces　of　Calpurnia　and　Cleopatra　blanched　for　an　instant；　as；　immediately　following　upon　this　apparition；　a　large　bundle　was　hurled　through　the　open　port　into　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　the　shadow　vanished。

〃Is　it　a　bomb？〃　cried　several　of　the　ladies　at　once。

〃Nonsense！〃　said　Madame　Recamier；　jumping　lightly　forward。　　〃A　man　doesn't　mind　blowing　a　woman　up；　but　he'll　never　blow　himself　up。　We're　safe　enough　in　that　respect。　　The　thing　looks　to　me　like　a　bundle　of　illustrated　papers。〃

〃That's　what　it　is；〃　said　Cleopatra　who　had　been　investigating。　〃It's　rather　a　discourteous　bit　of　courtesy；　tossing　them　in　through　the　window　that　way；　I　think；　but　I　presume　they　mean　well。　　Dear　me；〃　she　added；　as；　having　untied　the　bundle；　she　held　one　of　the　open　papers　up　before　her；　〃how　interesting！　　All　the　latest　Paris　fashions。　　Humph！　　Look　at　those　sleeves；　Elizabeth。　　What　an　impregnable　fortress　you　would　have　been　with　those　sleeves　added　to　your　ruffs！〃

〃I　should　think　they'd　be　very　becoming；〃　put　in　Cassandra；　standing　on　her　tip…toes　and　looking　over　Cleopatra's　shoulder。　　〃That　Watteau　isn't　bad；　either；　is　it；　now？〃

〃No；〃　remarked　Calpurnia。　　〃I　wonder　how　a　Watteau　back　like　that　would　go　on　my　blue　alpaca？〃

〃Very　nicely；〃　said　Elizabeth。　　〃How　many　gores　has　it？〃

〃Five；〃　observed　Calpurnia。　　〃One　more　than　Caesar's　toga。　　We　had　to　have　our　costumes　distinct　in　some　way。〃

〃A　remarkable　hat；　that；〃　nodded　Mrs。　Lot；　her　eye　catching　sight　of　a　Virot　creation　at　the　top　of　the　page。

〃Reminds　me　of　Eve's　description　of　an　autumn　scene　in　the　garden；〃　smiled　Mrs。　Noah。　　〃Gorgeous　in　its　foliage；　beautiful　thing；　though　I　shouldn't　have　dared　wear　one　in　the　Ark；　with　all　those　hungry　animals　browsing　about　the　upper　and　lower　decks。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　remarked　Cleopatra；　as　she　cocked　her　head　to　one　side　to　take　in　the　full　effect　of　an　attractive　summer　gown〃I　wonder　how　that　waist　would　make　up　in　blue　crepon；　with　a　yoke　of　lace　and　a　stylishly　contrasting　stock　of　satin　ribbon？〃

〃It　would　depend　upon　how　you　finished　the　sleeves；〃　remarked　Madame　Recamier。　　〃If　you　had　a　few　puffs　of　rich　brocaded　satin　set　in　with　deeply　folded　pleats　it　wouldn't　be　bad。〃

〃I　think　it　would　be　very　effective；〃　observed　Mrs。　Noah；　〃but　a　trifle　too　light　for　general　wear。　　I　should　want　some　kind　of　a　wrap　with　it。〃

〃It　does　need　that；〃　assented　Elizabeth。　　〃A　wrap　made　of　passementerie　and　jet；　with　a　mousseline　de　soie　ruche　about　the　neck　held　by　a　chou；　would　make　it　fascinating。〃

〃The　committee　on　treachery　is　ready　to　report；〃　said　Delilah；　rising　from　her　corner；　where　she　and　Lucretia　Borgia　had　been　having　so　animated　a　discussion　that　they　had　failed　to　observe　the　others　crowding　about　Cleopatra　and　the　papers。

〃A　little　sombre；〃　said　Cleopatra。　　〃The　corsage　is　effective；　but　I　don't　like　those　basque　terminations。　　I've　never　approved　of　those　full　godets〃

〃The　committee　on　treachery；〃　remarked　Delilah　again；　raising　her　voice；　〃has　a　suggestion　to　make。〃

〃I　can't　get　over　those　sleeves；　though；〃　laughed　Helen　of　Troy。　〃What　is　the　use　of　them？〃

〃They　might　be　used　to　get　Greeks　into　Troy；〃　suggested　Madame　Recamier。

〃The　committee　on　treachery；〃　roared　Delilah；　thoroughly　angered　by　the　absorption　of　the　chairman　and　others；　〃has　a　suggestion　to　make。　This　is　the　third　and　last　call。〃

〃Oh；　I　beg　pardon；〃　cried　Cleopatra；　rapping　for　order。　　〃I　had　forgotten　all　about　our　committees。　　Excuse　me；　Delilah。　　Iahwas　absorbed　in　other　matters。　　Will　you　kindly　lay　your　patternI　should　say　your　planbefore　us？〃

〃It　is　briefly　this；〃　said　Delilah。　　〃It　has　been　suggested　that　we　invite　the　crew　of　this　vessel　to　a　chafing…dish　party；　under　the　supervision　of　Lucretia　Borgia；　and　that　she〃

The　balance　of　the　plan　was　not　outlined；　for　at　this　point　the　speaker　was　interrupted　by　a　loud　knocking　at　the　door；　its　instant　opening；　and　the　appearance　in　the　doorway　of　that　ill…visaged　ruffian　Captain　Kidd。

〃Ladies；〃　he　began；　〃I　have　come　here　to　explain　to　you　the　situation　in　which　you　find　yourselves。　　Have　I　your　permission　to　speak？〃

The　ladies　started　back；　but　the　chairman　was　equal　to　the　occasion。

〃Go　on；〃　said　Cleopatra；　with　queenly　dignity；　turning　to　the　interloper；　and　the　pirate　proceeded　to　take　the　second　step　in　the　nefarious　plan　upon　which　he　and　his　brother　ruffians　had　agreed；　of　which　the　tossing　in　through　the　window　of　the　bundle　of　fashion　papers　was　the　first。



CHAPTER　VII：　　THE　〃GEHENNA〃　IS　CHARTERED



It　was　about　twenty…four　hours　after　the　events　narrated　in　the　preceding　chapters　that　Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes　assumed　command　of　the　Gehenna；　which　was　nothing　more　nor　less　than　the　shadow　of　the　ill…　starred　ocean　steamship　City　of　Chicago；　which　tried　some　years　ago　to　reach　Liverpool　by　taking　the　overland　route　through　Ireland；　fortunately　without　detriment　to　her　passengers　and　crew；　who　had　the　pleasure　of　the　experience　of　shipwreck　without　any　of　the　discomforts　of　drowning。　　As　will　be　remembered；　the　obstructionist　nature　of　the　Irish　soil　prevented　the　City　of　Chicago　from　proceeding　farther　inland　than　was　necessary　to　keep　her　well　balanced　amidships　upon　a　convenient　and　not　too　stony　bed；　and　that　after　a　brief　sojourn　on　the　rocks　she　was　finally　disposed　of　to　the　Styx　Navigation　Company；　under　which　title　Charon　had　had　himself　incorporated；　is　a　matter　of　nautical　history。　　The　change　of　name　to　the　Gehenna　was　the　act　of　Charon　himself；　and　was　prompted；　no　doubt；　by　a　desire　to　soften　the　jealous　prejudices　of　the　residents　of　the　Stygian　capital　against　the　flourishing　and　ever…growing　metropolis　of　Illinois。

The　Associated　Shades　had　had　some　trouble　in　getting　this　craft。　Charon；　through　his　constant　association　with　life　on　both　sides　of　the　dark　river；　had　gained　a　knowledge；　more　or　less　intimate；　of　modern　business　methods；　and　while　as　janitor　of　the　club　he　was　subject　to　the　will　of　the　House…boat　Committee；　and　sympathized　deeply　with　the　members　of　the　association　in　their　trouble；　as　president　of　the　Styx　Navigation　Company　he　was　bound　up　in　certain　newly　attained　commercial　ideas　which　were　embarrassing　to　those　members　of　the　association　to　whose　hands　the　chartering　of　a　vessel　had　been　committed。

〃See　here；　Charon；〃　Sir　Walter　Raleigh　had　said；　after　Charon　had　expressed　himself　as　deeply　sympathetic；　but　unable　to　shave　the　terms　upon　which　the　vessel　could　be　had；　〃you　are　an　infernal　old　hypocrite。　　You　go　about　wringing　your　hands　over　our　misfortunes　until　they've　got　as　dry　and　flabby　as　a　pair　of　kid　gloves；　and　yet　when　we　ask　you　for　a　ship　of　suitable　size　and　speed　to　go　out　after　those　pirates；　you　become　a　sort　of　twin　brother　to　Shylock；　without　his　excuse。　　His　instincts　are　accidents　of　birth。　　Yours　are　cultivated；　and　you　know　it。〃

〃You　are　very　much　mistaken；　Sir　Walter；〃　Charon　had　answered　to　this。　　〃You　don't　understand　my　position。　　It　is　a　very　hard　one。　　As　janitor　of　your　club　I　am　really　prostrated　over　the　events　of　the　past　twenty…four　hours。　　My　occupation　is　gone；　and　my　despair　over　your　loss　is　correspondingly　greater；　for　I　have　time　on　my　hands　to　brood　over　it。　　I　was　hysterical　as　a　woman　yesterday　afternoonso　hysterical　that　I　came　near　upsetting　one　of　the　Furies　who　engaged　me　to　row　her　down　to　Madame　Medusa's　villa　last　evening；　and　right　at　the　sluice　of　the　vitriol　reservoir　at　that。〃

〃Then　why　the　deuce　don't　you　do　something　to　help　us？〃　pleaded　Hamlet。

〃How　can　I　do　any　more　than　I　have　done？　　I've　offered　you　the　Gehenna；〃　retorted　Charon。

〃But　on　what　terms？〃　expostulated　Raleigh。　　〃If　we　had　all　the　wealth　of　the　Indies　we'd　have　difficulty　in　paying　you　the　sums　you　demand。〃

〃But　I　am　only　president　of　the　company；〃　explained　Charon。　　〃I'd　like；　as　president；　to　show　you　some　courtesy；　and　I'm　perfectly　willing　to　do　so；　but　when　it　comes　down　to　giving　you　a　vessel　like　that；　I'm　bound　by　my　official　oath　to　consider　the　interest　of　the　stockholders。　　It　isn't　as　it　used　to　be　when　I　had　boats　to　hire　in　my　own　behalf　alone。　　In　those　days　I　had　nobody's　interest　but　my　own　to　look　after。　　Now　the　ships　all　belong　to　the　Styx　Navigation　Company。　　Can't　you　see　the　difference？〃

〃You　own　all　the　stock；　don't　you？〃　insisted　Raleigh。

〃I　don't　know；〃　Charon　answered；　blandly。　　〃I　haven't　seen　the　transfer…books　lately。''

〃But　you　know　that　you　did　own　every　share　of　it；　and　that　you　haven't　sold　any；　don't　you？〃　put　in　Hamlet。

Charon　was　puzzled　for　a　moment；　but　shortly　his　face　cleared；　and　Sir　Walter's　heart　sank；　for　it　was　evident　that　the　old　fellow　could　not　be　cornered。

〃Well；　it's　this　way；　Sir　Walter；　and　your　Highness；〃　he　said；　〃II　can't　say　whether　any　of　that　stock　has　been　transferred　or　not。　　The　fact　is；　I've　been　speculating　a　little　on　margin；　and　I've　put　up　that　stock　as　security；　and；　for　all　I　know；　I　may　have　been　sold　out　by　my　brokers。　　I've　been　so　upset　by　this　unfortunate　occurrence　that　I　haven't　seen　the　market　reports　for　two　days。　　Really　you'll　have　to　be　content　with　my　offer　or　go　without　the　Gehenna。　　There's　too　much　suspicion　attached　to　high　corporate　officials　lately　for　me　to　yield　a　jot　in　the　position　I　have　taken。　　It　would　never　do　to　get　you　all　ready　to　start；　and　then　have　an　injunction　clapped　on　you　by　some　unforeseen　stockholder　who　was　not　satisfied　with　the　terms　offered　you；　nor　can　I　ever　let　it　be　said　of　me　that　to　retain　my　position　as　janitor　of　your　organization　I　sacrificed　a　trust　committed　to　my　charge。　　I'll　gladly　lend　you　my　private　launch；　though　I　don't　think　it　will　aid　you　much；　because　the　naphtha…tank　has　exploded；　and　the　screw　slipped　off　and　went　to　the　bottom　two　weeks　ago。　　Still；　it　is　at　your　service；　and　I've　no　doubt　that　either　Phidias　or　Benvenuto　Cellini　will　carve　out　a　paddle　for　you　if　you　ask　him　to。〃

〃Bah！〃　retorted　Raleigh。　　〃You　might　as　well　offer　us　a　pair　of　skates。〃

〃I　would；　if　I　thought　the　river'd　freeze；〃　retorted　Charon；　blandly。

Raleigh　and　Hamlet　turned　away　impatiently　and　left　Charon　to　his　own　devices；　which　for　the　time　being　consisted　largely　of　winking　his　other　eye　quietly　and　outwardly　making　a　great　show　of　grief。

〃He's　too　canny　for　us；　I　am　afraid；〃　said　Sir　Walter。　　〃We'll　have　to　pay　him　his　money。〃

〃Let　us　first　consult　Sherlock　Holmes；〃　suggested　Hamlet；　and　this　they　proceeded　at　once　to　do。

〃There　is　but　one　thing　to　be　done；〃　observed　the　astute　detective　after　he　had　heard　Sir　Walter's　statement　of　the　case。　　〃It　is　an　old　saying　that　one　should　fight　fire　with　fire。　　We　must　meet　modern　business　methods　with　modern　commercial　ideas。　　Charter　his　vessel　at　his　own　price。〃

〃But　we'd　never　be　able　to　pay；〃　said