the wisdom of father brown-第24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！


his　muddy　little　rockery　in　a　sort　of　rustic　pond。　　When　I　remember　how　I've　cut　down　a　mile　and　a　half　of　green　poisonous　jungle　with　an　old　cutlass　half　as　sharp　as　this；　and　then　remember　I　must　stop　here　and　chop　this　matchwood；　because　of　some　confounded　old　bargain　scribbled　in　a　family　Bible；　why；　I〃

　　　　　He　swung　up　the　heavy　steel　again；　and　this　time　sundered　the　wall　of　wood　from　top　to　bottom　at　one　stroke。

　　　　　〃I　feel　like　that；〃　he　said　laughing；　but　furiously　flinging　the　sword　some　yards　down　the　path；　〃and　now　let's　go　up　to　the　house；　you　must　have　some　dinner。〃

　　　　　The　semicircle　of　lawn　in　front　of　the　house　was　varied　by　three　circular　garden　beds；　one　of　red　tulips；　a　second　of　yellow　tulips；　and　the　third　of　some　white；　waxen…looking　blossoms　that　the　visitors　did　not　know　and　presumed　to　be　exotic。　　A　heavy；　hairy　and　rather　sullen…looking　gardener　was　hanging　up　a　heavy　coil　of　garden　hose。　　The　corners　of　the　expiring　sunset　which　seemed　to　cling　about　the　corners　of　the　house　gave　glimpses　here　and　there　of　the　colours　of　remoter　flowerbeds；　and　in　a　treeless　space　on　one　side　of　the　house　opening　upon　the　river　stood　a　tall　brass　tripod　on　which　was　tilted　a　big　brass　telescope。　　Just　outside　the　steps　of　the　porch　stood　a　little　painted　green　garden　table；　as　if　someone　had　just　had　tea　there。　　The　entrance　was　flanked　with　two　of　those　half…featured　lumps　of　stone　with　holes　for　eyes　that　are　said　to　be　South　Sea　idols；　and　on　the　brown　oak　beam　across　the　doorway　were　some　confused　carvings　that　looked　almost　as　barbaric。

　　　　　As　they　passed　indoors；　the　little　cleric　hopped　suddenly　on　to　the　table；　and　standing　on　it　peered　unaffectedly　through　his　spectacles　at　the　mouldings　in　the　oak。　　Admiral　Pendragon　looked　very　much　astonished；　though　not　particularly　annoyed；　while　Fanshaw　was　so　amused　with　what　looked　like　a　performing　pigmy　on　his　little　stand；　that　he　could　not　control　his　laughter。　　But　Father　Brown　was　not　likely　to　notice　either　the　laughter　or　the　astonishment。

　　　　　He　was　gazing　at　three　carved　symbols；　which；　though　very　worn　and　obscure；　seemed　still　to　convey　some　sense　to　him。　　The　first　seemed　to　be　the　outline　of　some　tower　or　other　building；　crowned　with　what　looked　like　curly…pointed　ribbons。　　The　second　was　clearer：　　an　old　Elizabethan　galley　with　decorative　waves　beneath　it；　but　interrupted　in　the　middle　by　a　curious　jagged　rock；　which　was　either　a　fault　in　the　wood　or　some　conventional　representation　of　the　water　coming　in。　　The　third　represented　the　upper　half　of　a　human　figure；　ending　in　an　escalloped　line　like　the　waves；　the　face　was　rubbed　and　featureless；　and　both　arms　were　held　very　stiffly　up　in　the　air。

　　　　　〃Well；〃　muttered　Father　Brown；　blinking；　〃here　is　the　legend　of　the　Spaniard　plain　enough。　　Here　he　is　holding　up　his　arms　and　cursing　in　the　sea；　and　here　are　the　two　curses：　　the　wrecked　ship　and　the　burning　of　Pendragon　Tower。〃

　　　　　Pendragon　shook　his　head　with　a　kind　of　venerable　amusement。　　〃And　how　many　other　things　might　it　not　be？〃　he　said。　　〃Don't　you　know　that　that　sort　of　half…man；　like　a　half…lion　or　half…stag；　is　quite　common　in　heraldry？　　Might　not　that　line　through　the　ship　be　one　of　those　parti…per…pale　lines；　indented；　I　think　they　call　it？　　And　though　the　third　thing　isn't　so　very　heraldic；　it　would　be　more　heraldic　to　suppose　it　a　tower　crowned　with　laurel　than　with　fire；　and　it　looks　just　as　like　it。〃

　　　　　〃But　it　seems　rather　odd；〃　said　Flambeau；　〃that　it　should　exactly　confirm　the　old　legend。〃

　　　　　〃Ah；〃　replied　the　sceptical　traveller；　〃but　you　don't　know　how　much　of　the　old　legend　may　have　been　made　up　from　the　old　figures。　　Besides；　it　isn't　the　only　old　legend。　　Fanshaw；　here；　who　is　fond　of　such　things；　will　tell　you　there　are　other　versions　of　the　tale；　and　much　more　horrible　ones。　　One　story　credits　my　unfortunate　ancestor　with　having　had　the　Spaniard　cut　in　two；　and　that　will　fit　the　pretty　picture　also。　　Another　obligingly　credits　our　family　with　the　possession　of　a　tower　full　of　snakes　and　explains　those　little；　wriggly　things　in　that　way。　　And　a　third　theory　supposes　the　crooked　line　on　the　ship　to　be　a　conventionalized　thunderbolt；　but　that　alone；　if　seriously　examined；　would　show　what　a　very　little　way　these　unhappy　coincidences　really　go。〃

　　　　　〃Why；　how　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Fanshaw。

　　　　　〃It　so　happens；〃　replied　his　host　coolly；　〃that　there　was　no　thunder　and　lightning　at　all　in　the　two　or　three　shipwrecks　I　know　of　in　our　family。〃

　　　　　〃Oh！〃　said　Father　Brown；　and　jumped　down　from　the　little　table。

　　　　　There　was　another　silence　in　which　they　heard　the　continuous　murmur　of　the　river；　then　Fanshaw　said；　in　a　doubtful　and　perhaps　disappointed　tone：　　〃Then　you　don't　think　there　is　anything　in　the　tales　of　the　tower　in　flames？〃

　　　　　〃There　are　the　tales；　of　course；〃　said　the　Admiral；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃and　some　of　them；　I　don't　deny；　on　evidence　as　decent　as　one　ever　gets　for　such　things。　　Someone　saw　a　blaze　hereabout；　don't　you　know；　as　he　walked　home　through　a　wood；　someone　keeping　sheep　on　the　uplands　inland　thought　he　saw　a　flame　hovering　over　Pendragon　Tower。　　Well；　a　damp　dab　of　mud　like　this　confounded　island　seems　the　last　place　where　one　would　think　of　fires。〃

　　　　　〃What　is　that　fire　over　there？〃　asked　Father　Brown　with　a　gentle　suddenness；　pointing　to　the　woods　on　the　left　river…bank。　　They　were　all　thrown　a　little　off　their　balance；　and　the　more　fanciful　Fanshaw　had　even　some　difficulty　in　recovering　his；　as　they　saw　a　long；　thin　stream　of　blue　smoke　ascending　silently　into　the　end　of　the　evening　light。

　　　　　Then　Pendragon　broke　into　a　scornful　laugh　again。　　〃Gipsies！〃　he　said；　〃they've　been　camping　about　here　for　about　a　week。　　Gentlemen；　you　want　your　dinner；〃　and　he　turned　as　if　to　enter　the　house。

　　　　　But　the　antiquarian　superstition　in　Fanshaw　was　still　quivering；　and　he　said　hastily：　　〃But；　Admiral；　what's　that　hissing　noise　quite　near　the　island？　　It's　very　like　fire。〃

　　　　　〃It's　more　like　what　it　is；〃　said　the　Admiral；　laughing　as　he　led　the　way；　〃it's　only　some　canoe　going　by。〃

　　　　　Almost　as　he　spoke；　the　butler；　a　lean　man　in　black；　with　very　black　hair　and　a　very　long；　yellow　face；　appeared　in　the　doorway　and　told　him　that　dinner　was　served。

　　　　　The　dining…room　was　as　nautical　as　the　cabin　of　a　ship；　but　its　note　was　rather　that　of　the　modern　than　the　Elizabethan　captain。　　There　were；　indeed；　three　antiquated　cutlasses　in　a　trophy　over　the　fireplace；　and　one　brown　sixteenth…century　map　with　Tritons　and　little　ships　dotted　about　a　curly　sea。　　But　such　things　were　less　prominent　on　the　white　panelling　than　some　cases　of　quaint…coloured　South　American　birds；　very　scientifically　stuffed；　fantastic　shells　from　the　Pacific；　and　several　instruments　so　rude　and　queer　in　shape　that　savages　might　have　used　them　either　to　kill　their　enemies　or　to　cook　them。　　But　the　alien　colour　culminated　in　the　fact　that；　besides　the　butler；　the　Admiral's　only　servants　were　two　negroes；　somewhat　quaintly　clad　in　tight　uniforms　of　yellow。　　The　priest's　instinctive　trick　of　analysing　his　own　impressions　told　him　that　the　colour　and　the　little　neat　coat…tails　of　these　bipeds　had　suggested　the　word　〃Canary；〃　and　so　by　a　mere　pun　connected　them　with　southward　travel。　　Towards　the　end　of　the　dinner　they　took　their　yellow　clothes　and　black　faces　out　of　the　room；　leaving　only　the　black　clothes　and　yellow　face　of　the　butler。

　　　　　〃I'm　rather　sorry　you　take　this　so　lightly；〃　said　Fanshaw　to　the　host；　〃for　the　truth　is；　I've　brought　these　friends　of　mine　with　the　idea　of　their　helping　you；　as　they　know　a　good　deal　of　these　things。　　Don't　you　really　believe　in　the　family　story　at　all？〃

　　　　　〃I　don't　believe　in　anything；〃　answered　Pendragon　very　briskly；　with　a　bright　eye　cocked　at　a　red　tropical　bird。　　〃I'm　a　man　of　science。〃

　　　　　Rather　to　Flambeau's　surprise；　his　clerical　friend；　who　seemed　to　have　entirely　woken　up；　took　up　the　digression　and　talked　natural　history　with　his　host　with　a　flow　of　words　and　much　unexpected　information；　until　the　dessert　and　decanters　were　set　down　and　the　last　of　the　servants　vanished。　　Then　he　said；　without　altering　his　tone。

　　　　　〃Please　don't　think　me　impertinent；　Admiral　Pendragon。　　I　don't　ask　for　curiosity；　but　really　for　my　guidance　and　your　convenience。　　Have　I　made　a　bad　shot　if　I　guess　you　don't　want　these　old　things　talked　of　before　your　butler？〃

　　　　　The　Admiral　lifted　the　hairless　arches　over　his　eyes　and　exclaimed：　　〃Well；　I　don't　know　where　you　got　it；　but　the　truth　is　I　can't　stand　the　fellow；　though　I've　no　excuse　for　discharging　a　family　servant。　　Fanshaw；　with　his　fairy　tales；　would　say　my　blood　moved　against　men　with　that　black；　Spanish…looking　hair。〃

　　　　　Flambeau　struck　the　table　with　his　heavy　fist。　　〃By　Jove！〃　he　cried；　〃and　so　had　that　girl！〃

　　　　　〃I　hope　it'll　all　end　tonight；〃　continued　the　Admiral；　〃when　my　nephew　comes　back　safe　from　his　ship。　　You　looked　surprised。　　You　won't　understand；　I　suppose；　unless　I　tell　you　the　story。　　You　see；　my　father　had　two　sons；　I　remained　a　bachelor；　but　my　elder　brother　married；　and　had　a　son　who　became　a　sailor　like　all　the　rest　of　us；　and　will　inherit　the　proper　estate。　　Well；　my　father　was　a　strange　man；　he　somehow　combined　Fanshaw's　superstition　with　a　good　deal　of　my　scepticismthey　were　always　fighting　in　him；　and　after　my　first　voyages；　he　developed　a　notion　which　he　thought　somehow　would　settle　finally　whether　the　curse　was　truth　or　trash。　　If　all　the　Pendragons　sailed　about　anyhow；　he　thought　there　would　be　too　much　chance　of　natural　catastrophes　to　prove　anything。　　But　if　we　went　to　sea　one　at　a　time　in　strict　order　of　succession　to　the　property；　he　thought　it　might　show　whether　any　connected　fate　followed　the　family　as　a　family。　　It　was　a　silly　notion；　I　think；　and　I　quarrelled　with　my　father　pretty　heartily；　for　I　was　an　ambitious　man　and　was　left　to　the　last；　coming；　by　succession；　after　my　own　nephew。〃

　　　　　〃And　your　father　and　brother；〃　said　the　priest；　very　gently；　〃died　at　sea；　I　fear。〃

　　　　　〃Yes；〃　groaned　the　Admiral；　〃by　one　of　those　brutal　accidents　on　which　are　built　all　the　lying　mythologies　of　mankind；　they　were　both　shipwrecked。　　My　father；　coming　up　this　coast　out　of　the　Atlantic；　was　washed　up　on　these　Cornish　rocks。　　My　brother's　ship　was　sunk；　no　one　knows　where；　on　the　voyage　home　from　Tasmania。　　His　body　was　never　found。　　I　tell　you　it　was　from　perfectly　natural　mishap；　lots　of　other　people　besides　Pendragons　were　drowned；　and　both　disasters　are　discussed　in　a　normal　way　by　navigators。　　But；　of　course；　it　set　this　forest　of　superstition　on　fire；　and　men　saw　the　flaming　tower　everywhere。　　That's　why　I　say　it　will　be　all　right　when　Walter　returns。　　The　girl　he's　engaged　to　was　coming　today；　but　I　was　so　afraid　of　some　chance　delay　frightening　her　that　I　wired　her　not　to　come　till　she　heard　from　me。　　But　he's　practically　sure　to　be　here　some　time　tonight；　and　then　it'll　all　end　in　smoke　tobacco　smoke。　　We'll　crack　that　old　lie　when　we　crack　a　bottle　of　this　wine。〃

　　　　　〃Very　good　wine；〃　said　Father　Brown；　gravely　lifting　his　glass；　〃but；　as　you　see；　a　very　bad　wine…bibber。　　I　most　sincerely　beg　your　pardon〃：　　for　he　had　spilt　a　small　s