the soul of nicholas snyders-第1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！






THE　SOUL　OF　NICHOLAS　SNYDERS；　OR　THE　MISER　OF　ZANDAM

By　JEROME　K。　JEROME







Once　upon　a　time　in　Zandam；　which　is　by　the　Zuider　Zee；　there　lived　a
wicked　man　named　Nicholas　Snyders。　　He　was　mean　and　hard　and　cruel；
and　loved　but　one　thing　in　the　world；　and　that　was　gold。　　And　even
that　not　for　its　own　sake。　　He　loved　the　power　gold　gave　himthe
power　to　tyrannize　and　to　oppress；　the　power　to　cause　suffering　at　his
will。　　They　said　he　had　no　soul；　but　there　they　were　wrong。　　All　men
ownor；　to　speak　more　correctly；　are　owned　bya　soul；　and　the　soul
of　Nicholas　Snyders　was　an　evil　soul。　　He　lived　in　the　old　windmill
which　still　is　standing　on　the　quay；　with　only　little　Christina　to
wait　upon　him　and　keep　house　for　him。　　Christina　was　an　orphan　whose
parents　had　died　in　debt。　　Nicholas；　to　Christina's　everlasting
gratitude；　had　cleared　their　memoryit　cost　but　a　few　hundred
florinsin　consideration　that　Christina　should　work　for　him　without
wages。　　Christina　formed　his　entire　household；　and　only　one　willing
visitor　ever　darkened　his　door；　the　widow　Toelast。　　Dame　Toelast　was
rich　and　almost　as　great　a　miser　as　Nicholas　himself。　　〃Why　should　not
we　two　marry？〃　Nicholas　had　once　croaked　to　the　widow　Toelast。
〃Together　we　should　be　masters　of　all　Zandam。〃　　Dame　Toelast　had
answered　with　a　cackling　laugh；　but　Nicholas　was　never　in　haste。

One　afternoon　Nicholas　Snyders　sat　alone　at　his　desk　in　the　centre　of
the　great　semi…circular　room　that　took　up　half　the　ground　floor　of　the
windmill；　and　that　served　him　for　an　office；　and　there　came　a　knocking
at　the　outer　door。

〃Come　in！〃　cried　Nicholas　Snyders。　　He　spoke　in　a　tone　quite　kind　for
Nicholas　Snyders。　　He　felt　so　sure　it　was　Jan　knocking　at　the
doorJan　Van　der　Voort；　the　young　sailor；　now　master　of　his　own　ship；
come　to　demand　of　him　the　hand　of　little　Christina。　　In　anticipation；
Nicholas　Snyders　tasted　the　joy　of　dashing　Jan's　hopes　to　the　ground；
of　hearing　him　plead；　then　rave；　of　watching　the　growing　pallor　that
would　overspread　Jan's　handsome　face　as　Nicholas　would；　point　by
point；　explain　to　him　the　consequences　of　defiancehow；　firstly；
Jan's　old　mother　should　be　turned　out　of　her　home；　his　old　father　put
into　prison　for　debt；　how；　secondly；　Jan　himself　should　be　pursued
without　remorse；　his　ship　be　bought　over　his　head　before　he　could
complete　the　purchase。　　The　interview　would　afford　to　Nicholas　Snyders
sport　after　his　own　soul。　　Since　Jan's　return　the　day　before；　he　had
been　looking　forward　to　it。　　Therefore；　feeling　sure　it　was　Jan；　he
cried　〃Come　in！〃　quite　cheerily。

But　it　was　not　Jan。　　It　was　somebody　Nicholas　Snyders　had　never　set
eyes　on　before。　　And　neither；　after　that　one　visit；　did　Nicholas
Snyders　ever　set　eyes　upon　him　again。　　The　light　was　fading；　and
Nicholas　Snyders　was　not　the　man　to　light　candles　before　they　were
needed；　so　that　he　was　never　able　to　describe　with　any　precision　the
stranger's　appearance。　　Nicholas　thought　he　seemed　an　old　man；　but
alert　in　all　his　movements；　while　his　eyesthe　one　thing　about　him
Nicholas　saw　with　any　clearnesswere　curiously　bright　and　piercing。

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Nicholas　Snyders；　taking　no　pains　to　disguise　his
disappointment。

〃I　am　a　pedlar；〃　answered　the　stranger。　　His　voice　was　clear　and　not
unmusical；　with　just　the　suspicion　of　roguishness　behind。

〃Not　wanting　anything；〃　answered　Nicholas　Snyders　drily。　　〃Shut　the
door　and　be　careful　of　the　step。〃

But　instead　the　stranger　took　a　chair　and　drew　it　nearer；　and；　himself
in　shadow；　looked　straight　into　Nicholas　Snyders'　face　and　laughed。

〃Are　you　quite　sure；　Nicholas　Snyders？　　Are　you　quite　sure　there　is
nothing　you　require？〃

〃Nothing；〃　growled　Nicholas　Snyders〃except　the　sight　of　your　back。〃
The　stranger　bent　forward；　and　with　his　long；　lean　hand　touched
Nicholas　Snyders　　playfully　　upon　　the　　knee。　　〃Wouldn't　you　like　a
soul；　Nicholas　Snyders？〃　he　asked。

〃Think　of　it；〃　continued　the　strange　pedlar；　before　Nicholas　could
recover　power　of　speech。　　〃For　forty　years　you　have　drunk　the　joy　of
being　mean　and　cruel。　　Are　you　not　tired　of　the　taste；　Nicholas
Snyders？　　Wouldn't　you　like　a　change？　　Think　of　it；　Nicholas
Snydersthe　joy　of　being　loved；　of　hearing　yourself　blessed；　instead
of　cursed！　　Wouldn't　it　be　good　fun；　Nicholas　Snydersjust　by　way　of
a　change？　　If　you　don't　like　it；　you　can　return　and　be　yourself
again。〃

What　Nicholas　Snyders；　recalling　all　things　afterwards；　could　never
understand　was　why　he　sat　there；　listening　in　patience　to　the
stranger's　talk；　for；　at　the　time；　it　seemed　to　him　the　jesting　of　a
wandering　fool。　　But　something　about　the　stranger　had　impressed　him。

〃I　have　it　with　me；〃　continued　the　odd　pedlar；　〃and　as　for　price〃
The　stranger　made　a　gesture　indicating　dismissal　of　all　sordid
details。　　〃I　look　for　my　reward　in　watching　the　result　of　the
experiment。　　I　am　something　of　a　philosopher。　　I　take　an　interest　in
these　matters。　　See。〃　　The　stranger　dived　between　his　legs　and
produced　from　his　pack　a　silver　flask　of　cunning　workmanship　and　laid
it　on　the　table。

〃Its　flavour　is　not　unpleasant；〃　explained　the　stranger。　　〃A　little
bitter；　but　one　does　not　drink　it　by　the　goblet：　　a　wineglassful；　such
as　one　would　of　old　Tokay；　while　the　mind　of　both　is　fixed　on　the　same
thought：　　'May　my　soul　pass　into　him；　may　his　pass　into　me！'　　The
operation　is　quite　simple：　　the　secret　lies　within　the　drug。〃　　The
stranger　patted　the　quaint　flask　as　though　it　had　been　some　little
dog。

〃You　will　say：　　'Who　will　exchange　souls　with　Nicholas　Snyders？'〃　　The
stranger　appeared　to　have　come　prepared　with　an　answer　to　all
questions。　　〃My　friend；　you　are　rich；　you　need　not　fear。　　It　is　the
possession　men　value　the　least　of　all　they　have。　　Choose　your　soul　and
drive　your　bargain。　　I　leave　that　to　you　with　one　word　of　counsel
only：　　you　will　find　the　young　readier　than　the　oldthe　young；　to
whom　the　world　promises　all　things　for　gold。　　Choose　you　a　fine；　fair；
fresh；　young　soul；　Nicholas　Snyders；　and　choose　it　quickly。　　Your　hair
is　somewhat　grey；　my　friend。　　Taste；　before　you　die；　the　joy　of
living。〃

The　strange　pedlar　laughed　and；　rising；　closed　his　pack。　　Nicholas
Snyders　neither　moved　nor　spoke；　until　with　the　soft　clanging　of　the
massive　door　his　senses　returned　to　him。　　Then；　seizing　the　flask　the
stranger　had　left　behind　him；　he　sprang　from　his　chair；　meaning　to
fling　it　after　him　into　the　street。　　But　the　flashing　of　the　firelight
on　its　burnished　surface　stayed　his　hand。

〃After　all；　the　case　is　of　value；〃　Nicholas　chuckled；　and　put　the
flask　aside　and；　lighting　the　two　tall　candles；　buried　himself　again
in　his　green…bound　ledger。　　Yet　still　from　time　to　time　Nicholas
Snyders'　eye　would　wander　to　where　the　silver　flask　remained　half
hidden　among　dusty　papers。　　And　later　there　came　again　a　knocking　at
the　door；　and　this　time　it　really　was　young　Jan　who　entered。

Jan　held　out　his　great　hand　across　the　littered　desk。

〃We　parted　in　anger；　Nicholas　Snyders。　　It　was　my　fault。　　You　were　in
the　right。　　I　ask　you　to　forgive　me。　　I　was　poor。　　It　was　selfish　of
me　to　wish　the　little　maid　to　share　with　me　my　poverty。　　But　now　I　am
no　longer　poor。〃

〃Sit　down；〃　responded　Nicholas　in　kindly　tone。　　〃I　have　heard　of　it。
So　now　you　are　master　and　the　owner　of　your　shipyour　very　own。〃

〃My　very　own　after　one　more　voyage；〃　laughed　Jan。　　〃I　have　Burgomaster
Allart's　promise。〃

〃A　promise　is　not　a　performance；〃　hinted　Nicholas。　　〃Burgomaster
Allart　is　not　a　rich　man；　a　higher　bid　might　tempt　him。　　Another　might
step　in　between　you　and　become　the　owner。〃

Jan　only　laughed。　　〃Why；　that　would　be　the　work　of　an　enemy；　which；
God　be　praised；　I　do　not　think　that　I　possess。〃

〃Lucky　lad！〃　commented　Nicholas；　〃so　few　of　us　are　without　enemies。
And　your　parents；　Jan；　will　they　live　with　you？〃

〃We　wished　it；〃　answered　Jan；　〃both　Christina　and　I。　　But　the　mother
is　feeble。　　The　old　mill　has　grown　into　her　life。〃

〃I　can　understand；〃　agreed　Nicholas。　　〃The　old　vine　torn　from　the　old
wall　withers。　　And　your　father；　Jan；　people　will　gossip。　　The　mill　is
paying？〃

Jan　shook　his　head。　　〃It　never　will　again；　and　the　debts　haunt　him。
But　all　that；　as　I　tell　him；　is　a　thing　of　the　past。　　His　creditors
have　agreed　to　look　to　me　and　wait。〃

〃All　of　them？〃　queried　Nicholas。

〃All　of　them　I　could　discover；〃　laughed　Jan。

Nicholas　Snyders　pushed　back　his　chair　and　looked　at　Jan　with　a　smile
upon　his　wrinkled　face。　　〃And　so　you　and　Christina　have　arranged　it
all？〃

〃With　your　consent；　sir；〃　answered　Jan。

〃You　will　wait　for　that？〃　asked　Nicholas。

〃We　should　like　to　have　it；　sir。〃　　Jan　smiled；　but　the　tone　of　his
voice　fell　agreeably　on　Nicholas　Snyders'　ear。　　Nicholas　Snyders　loved
best　beating　the　dog　that；　growled　and　showed　its　teeth。

〃Better　not　wait　for　that；〃　said　Nicholas　Snyders。　　〃You　might　have　to
wait　long。〃

Jan　rose；　an　angry　flush　upon　his　face。　　〃So　nothing　changes　you；
Nicholas　Snyders。　　Have　it　your　own　way；　then。〃

〃You　will　marry　her　in　spite　of　me？〃

〃In　spite　of　you　and　of　your　friends　the　fiends；　and　of　your　master
the　Devil！〃　flung　out　Jan。　　For　Jan　had　a　soul　that　was　generous　and
brave　and　tender　and　excessively　short…tempered。　　Even　the　best　of
souls　have　their　failings。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　old　Nicholas。

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；〃　answered　Jan。

〃I　am　sorry　for　your　mother；〃　explained　Nicholas。　　〃The　poor　dame；　I
fear；　will　be　homeless　in　her　old　age。　　The　mortgage　shall　be
foreclosed；　Jan；　on　your　wedding…day。　　I　am　sorry　for　your　father；
Jan。　　His　creditors；　Janyou　have　overlooked　just　one。　　I　am　sorry
for　him；　Jan。　　Prison　has　always　been　his　dread。　　I　am　sorry　even　for
you；　my　young　friend。　　You　will　have　to　begin　life　over　again。
Burgomaster　Allart　is　in　the　hollow　of　my　hand。　　I　have　but　to　say　the
word；　your　ship　is　mine。　　I　wish　you　joy　of　your　bride；　my　young
friend。　　You　must　love　her　very　dearlyyou　will　be　paying　a　high
price　for　her。〃

It　was　Nicholas　Snyders'　grin　that　maddened　Jan。　　He　sought　for
something　that；　thrown　straight　at　the　wicked　mouth；　should　silence
it；　and　by　chance　his　hand　lighted　on　the　pedlar's　silver　flask。　　In
the　same　instance　Nicholas　Snyders'　hand　had　closed　upon　it　also。　　The
grin　had　died　away。

〃Sit　down；〃　commanded　Nicholas　Snyders。　　〃Let　us　talk　further。〃　　And
there　was　that　in　his　voice　that　compelled　the　younger　man's
obedience。

〃You　wonder；　Jan；　why　I　seek　always　anger　and　hatred。　　I　wonder　at
times　myself。　　Why　do　generous　thoughts　never　come　to　me；　as　to　other
men！　　Listen；　Jan；　I　am　in　a　whimsical　mood。　　Such　things　cannot　be；
but　it　is　a　whim　of　mine　to　think　it　might　have　been。　　Sell　me　your
soul；　Jan；　sell　me　your　soul；　that　I；　too；　may　taste　this　love　and
gladness　that　I　hear　about。　　For　a　little　while；　Jan；　only　for　a
little　while；　and　I　will　give　you　all　you　desire。〃

The　old　man　seized　his　pen　and　wrote。

〃See；　Jan；　the　ship　is　yours　beyond　mishap；　the　mill　goes　free；　your
father　may　hold　up　his　head　again。　　And　all　I　ask；　Jan；　is　that　you
drink　to　me；　willing　the　while　that　your　soul　may　go　from　you　and
become　the　soul　of　old　Nicholas　Snydersfor　a　little　while；　Jan；　only
for　a　little　while。〃

Wit