his own people-第8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！


wool　clipped。　　I　suppose　the　two　of　'em　signaled　what　was　in　every
hand　we　held；　though　I'm　sure　they　needn't　have　gone　to　the　trouble！
Fact　is；　I　don't　see　why　they　bothered　about　goin'　through　the　form
of　playin'　cards　with　us　at　all。　　They　could　have　taken　it　away
without　that！　　Whee！〃　　Mr。　Cooley　whistled　loud　and　long。　　〃And
there's　loads　of　wise　young　men　on　the　ocean　now；　hurryin'　over　to
take　our　places　in　the　pens。　　Well；　they　can　have　~mine~！　　Funny；
Mellin：　　nobody　would　come　up　to　you　or　me　in　the　Grand　Central　in
New　York　and　try　to　sell　us　greenbacks　just　as　good　as　real。　　But
we　come　over　to　Europe　with　our　pockets　full　o'　money　and　start　in
to　see　the　Big　City　with　Jesse　James　in　a　false　mustache　on　one　arm；
and　Lucresha　Borgy；　under　an　assumed　name；　on　the　other！〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　agree　with　you；〃　said　Cornish；　〃though　I　must　say
that；　from　all　I　hear；　Madame　de　Vaurigard　might　put　an　atmosphere
about　a　thing　which　would　deceive　almost　any　one　who　wasn't　on
his　guard。　　When　a　Parisienne　of　her　sort　is　clever　at　all　she's
irresistible。〃

〃I　believe　you；〃　Cooley　sighed　deeply。

〃Yesterday　evening；　Mr。　Mellin；〃　continued　the　journalist；　〃when
I　saw　the　son　of　my　old　friend　in　company　with　Welch　and　Sneyd；　of
course　I　tried　to　warn　him。　　I've　often　seen　them　in　Paris；　though
I　believe　they　have　no　knowledge　of　me。　　As　I've　said；　they　are
notorious；　especially　Welch；　yet　they　have　managed；　so　far；　to　avoid
any　difficulty　with　the　Paris　police；　and；　I'm　sorry　to　say；　it
might　be　hard　to　actually　prove　anything　against　them。　　You　couldn't
~prove~　that　anything　was　crooked　last　night；　for　instance。　　For
that　matter；　I　don't　suppose　you　want　to。　　Mr。　Cooley　wishes　to
accept　his　loss　and　bear　it；　and　I　take　it　that　that　will　be　your
attitude；　too。　In　regard　to　the　note　you　gave　Sneyd；　I　hope　you　will
refuse　to　pay；　I　don't　think　that　they　would　dare　press　the　matter。〃

〃Neither　do　I；〃　Mr。　Cooley　agreed。　　〃I　left　a　silver　cigarette…case
at　the　apartment　last　night；　and　after　talkin'　to　Cornish　a　while
ago；　I　sent　my　man　for　it　with　a　note　to　her　that'll　make　'em　all
sit　up　and　take　some　notice。　　The　gang's　all　there　together；　you
can　be　sure。　　I　asked　for　Sneyd　and　Pedlow　in　the　office　and　found
they'd　gone　out　early　this　morning　leavin'　word　they　wouldn't　be
back　till　midnight。　　And；　see　here；　I　know　I'm　easy；　but　somehow
I　believe　you're　even　a　softer　piece　o'　meat　than　I　am。　　I　want　you
to　promise　me　that　whatever　happens　you　won't　pay　that　I　O　U。〃

Mellin　moistened　his　lips　in　vain。　He　could　not　answer。

〃I　want　you　to　promise　me　not　to　pay　it；〃　repeated　Cooley　earnestly。

〃I　promise；〃　gasped　Mellin。

〃You　won't　pay　it　no　matter　what　they　do？〃

〃No。〃

This　seemed　to　reassure　Mr。　Cooley。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I've　got　to　hustle　to　get　my　car　shipped　and　make
the　train。　　Cornish　has　finished　his　job　down　here　and　he's　goin'
with　me。　　I　want　to　get　out。　　The　whole　thing's　left　a　mighty　bad
taste　in　my　mouth；　and　I'd　go　crazy　if　I　didn't　get　away　from　it。
Why　don't　you　jump　into　your　clothes　and　come　along；　too？〃

〃I　can't。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　young　man　with　a　sympathetic　shake　of　the　head；
〃you　certainly　look　sick。　　It　may　be　better　if　you　stay　in　bed　till
evening：　　a　train's　a　mighty　mean　place　for　the　day　after。　　But　I
wouldn't　hang　around　here　too　long。　　If　you　want　money；　all　you　have
to　do　is　to　ask　the　hotel　to　cash　a　check　on　your　home　bank；　they're
always　glad　to　do　that　for　Americans。〃　　He　turned　to　the　door。
〃Mr。　Cornish；　if　you're　goin'　to　help　me　about　shipping　the　car；
I'm　ready。〃

〃So　am　I。　　Good…by；　Mr。　Mellin。〃

〃Good…by；〃　Mellin　said　feebly〃and　thank　you。〃

Young　Cooley　came　back　to　the　bedside　and　shook　the　other's　feverish
hand。　　〃Good…by；　ole　man。　　I'm　awful　sorry　it's　all　happened；　but
I'm　glad　it　didn't　cost　you　quite　as　much　money　as　it　did　me。
Otherwise　I　expect　it's　hit　us　about　equally　hard。　　I　wishI　wish
I　could　find　a　i~nice　one~〃the　youth　gulped　over　something　not
unlike　a　sob〃as　fascinatin'　as　her！〃

Most　people　have　had　dreams　of　approaching　dangers　in　the　path　of
which　their　bodies　remained　inert；　when；　in　spite　of　the　frantic
wish　to　fly；　it　was　impossible　to　move；　while　all　the　time　the
horror　crept　closer　and　closer。　　This　was　Mellin's　state　as　he　saw
the　young　man　going。　　It　was　absolutely　necessary　to　ask　Cooley　for
help；　to　beg　him　for　a　loan。　　But　he　could　not。

He　saw　Cooley's　hand　on　the　doorknob；　saw　the　door　swing　open。

〃Good…by；　again；〃　Cooley　said；　〃and　good　luck　to　you！〃

Mellin's　will　strove　desperately　with　the　shame　that　held　him
silent。

The　door　was　closing。

〃Oh；　Cooley；〃　called　Mellin　hoarsely。

〃Yes。　　What？〃

〃J…j…just　good…by；〃　said　Mellin。

And　with　that　young　Cooley　was　gone。





IX。　Expiation

A　multitudinous　clangor　of　bells　and　a　dozen　neighboring　chimes　rang
noon；　then　the　rectangular　oblongs　of　hot　sunlight　that　fell　from
the　windows　upon　the　carpet　of　Mellin's　room　began　imperceptibly
to　shift　their　angles　and　move　eastward。　　From　the　stone　pavement
of　the　street　below　came　the　sound　of　horses　pawing　and　the　voices
of　waiting　cabmen；　then　bells　again；　and　more　bells；　clamoring　the
slow　and　cruel　afternoon　into　the　past。　　But　all　was　silent　in
Mellin's　room；　save　when；　from　time　to　time；　a　long；　shuddering
sigh　came　from　the　bed。

The　unhappy　young　man　had　again　drawn　the　coverlet　over　his　head；
but　not　to　sleep：　　it　was　more　like　a　forlorn　and　desperate　effort
to　hide；　as　if　he　crept　into　a　hole；　seeking　darkness　to　cover　the
shame　and　fear　that　racked　his　soul。　　For　though　his　shame　had　been
too　great　to　let　him　confess　to　young　Cooley　and　ask　for　help；　his
fear　was　as　great　as　his　shame；　and　it　increased　as　the　hours　passed。
In　truth　his　case　was　desperate。　　Except　the　people　who　had　stripped
him；　Cooley　was　the　only　person　in　all　of　Europe　with　whom　he　had
more　than　a　very　casual　acquaintance。　　At　home；　in　Cranston；　he　had
no　friends　susceptible　to　such　an　appeal　as　it　was　vitally　necessary
for　him　to　make。　　His　relatives　were　not　numerous：　there　were　two
aunts；　the　widows　of　his　father's　brothers；　and　a　number　of　old…maid
cousins；　and　he　had　an　uncle　in　Iowa；　a　country　minister　whom　he　had
not　seen　for　years。　　But　he　could　not　cable　to　any　of　these　for
money；　nor　could　he　quite　conjure　his　imagination　into　picturing　any
of　them　sending　it　if　he　did。　　And　even　to　cable　he　would　have　to
pawn　his　watch；　which　was　an　old…fashioned　one　of　silver　and　might
not　bring　enough　to　pay　the　charges。

He　began　to　be　haunted　by　fragmentary；　prophetic　visionsconfused
but　realistic　in　detail；　and　horridly　probableof　his　ejectment
from　the　hotel；　perhaps　arrest　and　trial。　　He　wondered　what　they
did　in　Italy　to　people　who　〃beat〃　hotels；　and；　remembering　what　some
one　had　told　him　of　the　dreadfulness　of　Italian　jails；　convulsive
shudderings　seized　upon　him。

The　ruddy　oblongs　of　sunlight　crawled　nearer　to　the　east　wall　of　the
room；　stretching　themselves　thinner　and　thinner；　until　finally　they
were　not　there　at　all；　and　the　room　was　left　in　deepening　grayness。
Carriages；　one　after　the　other；　in　unintermittent　succession；
rumbled　up　to　the　hotel…entrance　beneath　the　window；　bringing
goldfish　for　the　Pincio　and　the　fountains　of　Villa　Borghese。　　Wild
strains　from　the　Hungarian　orchestra；　rhapsodical　twankings　of
violins；　and　the　runaway　arpeggios　of　a　zither　crazed　with　speed…
mania；　skipped　along　the　corridors　and　lightly　through　Mellin's
door。　　In　his　mind's　eye　he　saw　the　gay　crowd　in　the　watery　light；
the　little　tables　where　only　five　days　ago　he　had　sat　with　the
loveliest　of　all　the　anemone…like　ladies。。。。

The　beautifully…dressed　tea…drinkers　were　there　now；　under　the　green
glass　dome；　prattling　and　smiling；　those　people　he　had　called　his
own。　　And　as　the　music　sounded　louder；　faster；　wilder　and　wilder
with　the　gipsy　madnessthen　in　that　darkening　bedchamber　his　soul
became　articulate　in　a　cry　of　humiliation

〃God　in　His　mercy　forgive　me；　how　raw　I　was！〃


A　vision　came　before　his　closed　eyes；　the　maple…bordered　street　in
Cranston；　the　long；　straight；　wide　street　where　Mary　Kramer　lived；
a　summer　twilight；　Mary　in　her　white　muslin　dress　on　the　veranda
steps；　and　a　wistaria　vine　climbing　the　post　beside　her；　half…
embowering　her。　　How　cool　and　sweet　and　good　she　looked！　　How　dear
and　how　~kind~！she　had　always　been　to　him。


Dusk　stole　through　the　windows：　　the　music　ceased　and　the　tea…hour
was　over。　　The　carriages　were　departing；　bearing　the　gay　people
who　went　away　laughing；　calling　last　words　to　one　another；　and；
naturally；　quite　unaware　that　a　young　man；　who；　five　days　before；
had　adopted　them　and　called　them　〃his　own；〃　was　lying　in　a　darkened
room　above　them；　and　crying　like　a　child　upon　his　pillow。





X。　　The　Cab　at　the　Corner

A　ten　o'clock；　a　page　bearing　a　card　upon　a　silver　tray　knocked　upon
the　door；　and　stared　with　wide…eyed　astonishment　at　the　disordered
gentleman　who　opened　it。

The　card　was　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke's。　　Underneath　the　name　was
written：

　　If　you　are　there　will　you　give　me　a　few　minutes？　　I　am　waiting
　　in　a　cab　at　the　next　corner　by　the　fountain。

Mellin's　hand　shook　as　he　read。　　He　did　not　doubt　that　she　came　as
an　emissary；　probably　they　meant　to　hound　him　for　payment　of　the
note　he　had　given　Sneyd；　and　at　that　thought　he　could　have　shrieked
with　hysterical　laughter。

〃Do　you　speak　English？〃　he　asked。

〃Spik　little。　Yes。〃

〃Who　gave　you　this　card？〃

〃Coachman；〃　said　the　boy。　〃He　wait　risposta。〃

〃Tell　him　to　say　that　I　shall　be　there　in　five　minutes。〃

〃Fi'　minute。　　Yes。　　Good…by。〃

Mellin　was　partly　dressedhe　had　risen　half　an　hour　earlier　and
had　been　distractedly　pacing　the　floor　when　the　page　knockedand
he　completed　his　toilet　quickly。　　He　passed　down　the　corridors；
descended　by　the　stairway　（feeling　that　to　use　the　elevator　would
be　another　abuse　of　the　confidence　of　the　hotel　company）　and　slunk
across　the　lobby　with　the　look　and　the　sensations　of　a　tramp　who
knows　that　he　will　be　kicked　into　the　street　if　anybody　catches
sight　of　him。

A　closed　cab　stood　near　the　fountain　at　the　next　corner。　　There　was
a　trunk　on　the　box　by　the　driver；　and　the　roof　was　piled　with　bags
and　rugs。　He　approached　uncertainly。

〃Isis　thisis　it　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke？〃　he　stammered　pitifully。

She　opened　the　door。

〃Yes。　　Will　you　get　in？　　We'll　just　drive　round　the　block　if　you
don't　mind。　　I'll　bring　you　back　here　in　ten　minutes。〃　　And　when　he
had　tremulously　complied；　〃~Avanti；　cocchiere~；〃　she　called　to　the
driver；　and　the　tired　little　cab…horse　began　to　draw　them　slowly
along　the　deserted　street。

Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　maintained　silence　for　a　time；　while　her
companion　waited；　his　heart　pounding　with　dreadful　apprehensions。
Finally　she　gave　a　short；　hard　laugh　and　said：

〃I　saw　your　face　by　the　corner　light。　　Been　havin'　a　hard　day
of　it？〃

The　fear　of　breaking　down　kept　him　from　answering。　　He　gulped
painfully　once　or　twice；　and　turned　his　face　away　from　her。　　Light
enough　from　a　streetlamp　shone　in　for　her　to　see。

〃I　was　rather　afraid　you'd　refuse；〃　she　said　seriously。　　〃Really；
I　wonder　you　were　willin'　to　come！〃

〃I　wasI　was