manalive-第12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！


and　sent　to　jail　when　they　ought　to　have　been　thrashed　and　sent　to　bed。
Scores　of　men；　I　am　sure；　have　had　a　lifetime　at　Hanwell　when　they
only　wanted　a　week　at　Brighton。　　There　IS　something　in　Smith's
notion　of　domestic　self…government；　and　I　propose　that　we　put　it
into　practice。　　You　have　the　prisoner；　you　have　the　documents。
Come；　we　are　a　company　of　free；　white；　Christian　people；
such　as　might　be　besieged　in　a　town　or　cast　up　on　a　desert　island。
Let　us　do　this　thing　ourselves。　　Let　us　go　into　that　house　there
and　sit　down　and　find　out　with　our　own　eyes　and　ears　whether　this
thing　is　true　or　not；　whether　this　Smith　is　a　man　or　a　monster。
If　we　can't　do　a　little　thing　like　that；　what　right　have　we　to　put
crosses　on　ballot　papers？〃

Inglewood　and　Pym　exchanged　a　glance；　and　Warner；　who　was　no　fool；
saw　in　that　glance　that　Moon　was　gaining　ground。　　The　motives　that　led
Arthur　to　think　of　surrender　were　indeed　very　different　from　those
which　affected　Dr。　Cyrus　Pym。　　All　Arthur's　instincts　were　on　the　side
of　privacy　and　polite　settlement；　he　was　very　English　and　would　often
endure　wrongs　rather　than　right　them　by　scenes　and　serious　rhetoric。
To　play　at　once　the　buffoon　and　the　knight…errant；　like　his　Irish　friend；
would　have　been　absolute　torture　to　him；　but　even　the　semi…official
part　he　had　played　that　afternoon　was　very　painful。　　He　was　not　likely
to　be　reluctant　if　any　one　could　convince　him　that　his　duty　was　to　let
sleeping　dogs　lie。

On　the　other　hand；　Cyrus　Pym　belonged　to　a　country　in　which　things　are
possible　that　seem　crazy　to　the　English。　　Regulations　and　authorities　exactly
like　one　of　Innocent's　pranks　or　one　of　Michael's　satires　really　exist；
propped　by　placid　policemen　and　imposed　on　bustling　business　men。
Pym　knew　whole　States　which　are　vast　and　yet　secret　and　fanciful；
each　is　as　big　as　a　nation　yet　as　private　as　a　lost　village；　and　as
unexpected　as　an　apple…pie　bed。　　States　where　no　man　may　have　a　cigarette；
States　where　any　man　may　have　ten　wives；　very　strict　prohibition　States；
very　lax　divorce　Statesall　these　large　local　vagaries　had　prepared
Cyrus　Pym's　mind　for　small　local　vagaries　in　a　smaller　country。
Infinitely　more　remote　from　England　than　any　Russian　or　Italian；
utterly　incapable　of　even　conceiving　what　English　conventions　are；
he　could　not　see　the　social　impossibility　of　the　Court　of　Beacon。　　It　is
firmly　believed　by　those　who　shared　the　experiment；　that　to　the　very
end　Pym　believed　in　that　phantasmal　court　and　supposed　it　to　be
some　Britannic　institution。

Towards　the　synod　thus　somewhat　at　a　standstill　there　approached
through　the　growing　haze　and　gloaming　a　short　dark　figure　with　a　walk
apparently　founded　on　the　imperfect　repression　of　a　negro　breakdown。
Something　at　once　in　the　familiarity　and　the　incongruity　of　this
being　moved　Michael　to　even　heartier　outbursts　of　a　healthy
and　humane　flippancy。

〃Why；　here's　little　Nosey　Gould；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Isn't　the　mere
sight　of　him　enough　to　banish　all　your　morbid　reflections？〃

〃Really；〃　replied　Dr。　Warner；〃　I　really　fail　to　see　how　Mr。　Gould
affects　the　question；　and　I　once　more　demand〃

〃Hello！　what's　the　funeral；　gents？〃　inquired　the　newcomer　with　the　air
of　an　uproarious　umpire。　　〃Doctor　demandin'　something？　　Always　the　way
at　a　boarding…house；　you　know。　　Always　lots　of　demand。　　No　supply。〃

As　delicately　and　impartially　as　he　could；　Michael　restated　his　position；
and　indicated　generally　that　Smith　had　been　guilty　of　certain　dangerous
and　dubious　acts；　and　that　there　had　even　arisen　an　allegation　that
he　was　insane。

〃Well；　of　course　he　is；〃　said　Moses　Gould　equably；　〃it　don't
need　old　'Olmes　to　see　that。　　The　'awk…like　face　of　'Olmes；〃
he　added　with　abstract　relish；　〃showed　a　shide　of　disappointment；
the　sleuth…like　Gould　'avin'　got　there　before　'im。〃

〃If　he　is　mad；〃　began　Inglewood。

〃Well；〃　said　Moses；　〃when　a　cove　gets　out　on　the　tile　the　first　night
there's　generally　a　tile　loose。〃

〃You　never　objected　before；〃　said　Diana　Duke　rather　stiffly；
〃and　you're　generally　pretty　free　with　your　complaints。〃

〃I　don't　compline　of　him；〃　said　Moses　magnanimously；　〃the　poor　chap's
'armless　enough；　you　might　tie　'im　up　in　the　garden　her　and　'e'd　make
noises　at　the　burglars。〃

〃Moses；〃　said　Moon　with　solemn　fervour；　〃you　are　the　incarnation
of　Common　Sense。　　You　think　Mr。　Innocent　is　mad。　　Let　me　introduce　you
to　the　incarnation　of　Scientific　Theory。　　He　also　thinks　Mr。　Innocent
is　mad。Doctor；　this　is　my　friend　Mr。　Gould。Moses；　this　is　the　celebrated
Dr。　Pym。〃　　The　celebrated　Dr。　Cyrus　Pym　closed　his　eyes　and　bowed。
He　also　murmured　his　national　war…cry　in　a　low　voice；　which　sounded
like　〃Pleased　to　meet　you。〃

〃Now　you　two　people；〃　said　Michael　cheerfully；　〃who　both　think　our　poor
friend　mad；　shall　jolly　well　go　into　that　house　over　there　and　prove　him　mad。
What　could　be　more　powerful　than　the　combination　of　Scientific　Theory
with　Common　Sense？　　United　you　stand；　divided　you　fall。　　I　will　not　be
so　uncivil　as　to　suggest　that　Dr。　Pym　has　no　common　sense；　I　confine　myself
to　recording　the　chronological　accident　that　he　has　not　shown　us　any　so　far。
I　take　the　freedom　of　an　old　friend　in　staking　my　shirt　that　Moses　has　no
scientific　theory。　　Yet　against　this　strong　coalition　I　am　ready　to　appear；
armed　with　nothing　but　an　intuitionwhich　is　American　for　a　guess。〃

〃Distinguished　by　Mr。　Gould's　assistance；〃　said　Pym；　opening　his
eyes　suddenly。　　〃I　gather　that　though　he　and　I　are　identical
in　primary　di…agnosis　there　is　yet　between　us　something　that
cannot　be　called　a　disagreement；　something　which　we　may　perhaps
call　a〃　He　put　the　points　of　thumb　and　forefinger　together；
spreading　the　other　fingers　exquisitely　in　the　air；　and　seemed
to　be　waiting　for　somebody　else　to　tell　him　what　to　say。

〃Catchin'　flies？〃　inquired　the　affable　Moses。

〃A　divergence；〃　said　Dr。　Pym；　with　a　refined　sigh　of　relief；　〃a　divergence。
Granted　that　the　man　in　question　is　deranged；　he　would　not　necessarily
be　all　that　science　requires　in　a　homicidal　maniac〃

〃Has　it　occurred　to　you；〃　observed　Moon；　who　was　leaning　on　the　gate　again；
and　did　not　turn　round；　〃that　if　he　were　a　homicidal　maniac　he　might　have
killed　us　all　here　while　we　were　talking。〃

Something　exploded　silently　in　all　their　minds；　like　sealed
dynamite　in　some　forgotten　cellars。　　They　all　remembered
for　the　first　time　for　some　hour　or　two　that　the　monster
of　whom　they　were　talking　was　standing　quietly　among　them。
They　had　left　him　in　the　garden　like　a　garden　statue；　there　might
have　been　a　dolphin　coiling　round　his　legs；　or　a　fountain
pouring　out　of　his　mouth；　for　all　the　notice　they　had　taken
of　Innocent　Smith。　　He　stood　with　his　crest　of　blonde；　blown　hair
thrust　somewhat　forward；　his　fresh…coloured；　rather　short…sighted
face　looking　patiently　downwards　at　nothing　in　particular；
his　huge　shoulders　humped；　and　his　hands　in　his　trousers　pockets。
So　far　as　they　could　guess　he　had　not　moved　at　all。
His　green　coat　might　have　been　cut　out　of　the　green　turf
on　which　he　stood。　　In　his　shadow　Pym　had　expounded　and
Rosamund　expostulated；　Michael　had　ranted　and　Moses　had　ragged。
He　had　remained　like　a　thing　graven；　the　god　of　the　garden。
A　sparrow　had　perched　on　one　of　his　heavy　shoulders；　and　then；
after　correcting　its　costume　of　feathers；　had　flown　away。

〃Why；〃　cried　Michael；　with　a　shout　of　laughter；　〃the　Court　of　Beacon
has　openedand　shut　up　again　too。　　You　all　know　now　I　am　right。
Your　buried　common　sense　has　told　you　what　my　buried　common　sense　has
told　me。　　Smith　might　have　fired　off　a　hundred　cannons　instead　of　a　pistol；
and　you　would　still　know　he　was　harmless　as　I　know　he　is　harmless。
Back　we　all　go　to　the　house　and　clear　a　room　for　discussion。
For　the　High　Court　of　Beacon；　which　has　already　arrived　at　its　decision；
is　just　about　to　begin　its　inquiry。〃

〃Just　a　goin'　to　begin！〃　cried　little　Mr。　Moses　in　an　extraordinary
sort　of　disinterested　excitement；　like　that　of　an　animal　during　music
or　a　thunderstorm。　　〃Follow　on　to　the　'Igh　Court　of　Eggs　and　Bacon；
'ave　a　kipper　from　the　old　firm！　　'Is　Lordship　complimented
Mr。　Gould　on　the　'igh　professional　delicacy　'e　had　shown；
and　which　was　worthy　of　the　best　traditions　of　the　Saloon　Bar
and　three　of　Scotch　hot；　miss！　　Oh；　chase　me；　girls！〃

The　girls　betraying　no　temptation　to　chase　him；　he　went　away　in　a
sort　of　waddling　dance　of　pure　excitement；　and　has　made　a　circuit
of　the　garden　before　he　reappeared；　breathless　but　still　beaming。
Moon　had　known　his　man　when　he　realized　that　no　people　presented
to　Moses　Gould　could　be　quite　serious；　even　if　they　were
quite　furious。　　The　glass　doors　stood　open　on　the　side　nearest
to　Mr。　Moses　Gould；　and　as　the　feet　of　that　festive　idiot　were
evidently　turned　in　the　same　direction；　everybody　else　went
that　way　with　the　unanimity　of　some　uproarious　procession。
Only　Diana　Duke　retained　enough　rigidity　to　say　the　thing　that　had
been　boiling　at　her　fierce　feminine　lips　for　the　last　few　hours。
Under　the　shadow　of　tragedy　she　had　kept　it　back　as　unsympathetic。
〃In　that　case；〃　she　said　sharply；　〃these　cabs　can　be　sent　away。〃

〃Well；　Innocent　must　have　his　bag；　you　know；〃　said　Mary　with　a　smile。
〃I　dare　say　the　cabman　would　get　it　down　for　us。〃

〃I'll　get　the　bag；〃　said　Smith；　speaking　for　the　first　time　in　hours；
his　voice　sounded　remote　and　rude；　like　the　voice　of　a　statue。

Those　who　had　so　long　danced　and　disputed　round　his　immobility
were　left　breathless　by　his　precipitance。　　With　a　run　and　spring
he　was　out　of　the　garden　into　the　street；　with　a　spring　and
one　quivering　kick　he　was　actually　on　the　roof　of　the　cab。
The　cabman　happened　to　be　standing　by　the　horse's　head；　having　just
removed　its　emptied　nose…bag。　Smith　seemed　for　an　instant　to　be
rolling　about　on　the　cab's　back　in　the　embraces　of　his　Gladstone　bag。
The　next　instant；　however；　he　had　rolled；　as　if　by　a　royal　luck；
into　the　high　seat　behind；　and　with　a　shriek　of　piercing　and
appalling　suddenness　had　sent　the　horse　flying　and　scampering
down　the　street。

His　evanescence　was　so　violent　and　swift；　that　this　time　it
was　all　the　other　people　who　were　turned　into　garden　statues。
Mr。　Moses　Gould；　however；　being　ill…adapted　both　physically　and　morally
for　the　purposes　of　permanent　sculpture；　came　to　life　some　time　before
the　rest；　and；　turning　to　Moon；　remarked；　like　a　man　starting　chattily
with　a　stranger　on　an　omnibus；　〃Tile　loose；　eh？　　Cab　loose　anyhow。〃
There　followed　a　fatal　silence；　and　then　Dr。　Warner　said；　with　a　sneer
like　a　club　of　stone；

〃This　is　what　comes　of　the　Court　of　Beacon；　Mr。　Moon。　　You　have　let
loose　a　maniac　on　the　whole　metropolis。〃

Beacon　House　stood；　as　has　been　said；　at　the　end　of　a　long　crescent
of　continuous　houses。　　The　little　garden　that　shut　it　in　ran　out　into
a　sharp　point　like　a　green　cape　pushed　out　into　the　sea　of　two　streets。
Smith　and　his　cab　shot　up　one　side　of　the　triangle；　and　certainly
most　of　those　standing　inside　of　it　never　expected　to　see　him　again。
At　the　apex；　however；　he　turned　the　horse　sharply　round　and　drove　with　equal
violence　up　the　other　side　of　the　garden；　visible　to　all　those　in　the　group。
With　a　common　impulse　the　little　crowd　ran　across　the　lawn　as　if　t