第20章 法官的房子〔5〕

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nhehadfinishedhissuer,andliftedthetraytotheotherendofthegreatoakdining-table,hegotouthisbooksagain,utfreshwoodonthefire,trimmedhislam,andsethimselfdowntoasellofrealhardwork.Hewentonwithoutausetillabouteleveno'clock,whenheknockedoffforabittofixhisfireandlam,andtomakehimselfacuoftea.Hehadalwaysbeenatea-drinker,andduringhiscollegelifehadsatlateatworkandhadtakentealate.Therestwasagreatluxurytohim,andheenjoyeditwithasenseofdelicious,volutuousease.Therenewedfireleaedandsarkled,andthrewquaintshadowsthroughthegreatoldroom;andashesiedhishotteaherevelledinthesenseofisolationfromhiskind.Thenitwasthathebegantonoticeforthefirsttimewhatanoisetheratsweremaking.

"Surely,

"hethought,

"theycannothavebeenatitallthetimeIwasreading.Hadtheybeen,Imusthavenoticedit!

"Presently,whenthenoiseincreased,hesatisfiedhimselfthatitwasreallynew.Itwasevidentthatatfirsttheratshadbeenfrightenedattheresenceofastranger,andthelightoffireandlam;butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenowdisortingthemselvesaswastheirwont.

Howbusytheywere!Andharktothestrangenoises!Uanddownbehindtheoldwainscot,overtheceilingandunderthefloortheyraced,andgnawed,andscratched!MalcolmsonsmiledtohimselfasherecalledtomindthesayingofMrs.Demster,

"Bogiesisrats,andratsisbogies!

"Theteabegantohaveitseffectofintellectualandnervousstimulus,hesawwithjoyanotherlongsellofworktobedonebeforethenightwasast,andinthesenseofsecuritywhichitgavehim,heallowedhimselftheluxuryofagoodlookroundtheroom.Hetookhislaminonehand,andwentallaround,wonderingthatsoquaintandbeautifulanoldhousehadbeensolongneglected.Thecarvingoftheoakontheanelsofthewainscotwasfine,andonandroundthedoorsandwindowsitwasbeautifulandofraremerit.Thereweresomeoldicturesonthewalls,buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthathecouldnotdistinguishanydetailofthem,thoughheheldhislamashighashecouldoverhishead.Hereandthereashewentroundhesawsomecrackorholeblockedforamomentbythefaceofaratwithitsbrighteyesglitteringinthelight,butinaninstantitwasgone,andasqueakandascamerfollowed.Thethingthatmoststruckhim,however,wastheroeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof,whichhungdowninacorneroftheroomontheright-handsideofthefirelace.Heulleduclosetothehearthagreathigh-backedcarvedoakchair,andsatdowntohislastcuoftea.Whenthiswasdonehemadeuthefire,andwentbacktohiswork,sittingatthecornerofthetable,havingthefiretohisleft.Foralittlewhiletheratsdisturbedhimsomewhatwiththeireretualscamering,buthegotaccustomedtothenoiseasonedoestothetickingofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater,andhebecamesoimmersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld,excettheroblemwhichhewastryingtosolve,assedawayfromhim.

Hesuddenlylookedu,hisroblemwasstillunsolved,andtherewasintheairthatsenseofthehourbeforethedawn,whichissodreadtodoubtfullife.Thenoiseoftheratshadceased.Indeeditseemedtohimthatitmusthaveceasedbutlatelyandthatitwasthesuddencessationwhichhaddisturbedhim.Thefirehadfallenlow,butstillitthrewoutadeeredglow.Ashelookedhestartedinsiteofhissangfroid.

Thereonthegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefirelacesatanenormousrat,steadilyglaringathimwithbalefuleyes.Hemadeamotiontoitasthoughtohuntitaway,butitdidnotstir.Thenhemadethemotionofthrowingsomething.Stillitdidnotstir,butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily,anditscrueleyesshoneinthelamlightwithanaddedvindictiveness.

Malcolmsonfeltamazed,andseizingtheokerfromthehearthranatittokillit.Before,however,hecouldstrikeit,therat,withasqueakthatsoundedliketheconcentrationofhate,jumeduonthefloor,and,runningutheroeofthealarmbell,disaearedinthedarknessbeyondtherangeofthegreen-shadedlam.Instantly,strangetosay,thenoisyscameringoftheratsinthewainscotbeganagain.

BythistimeMalcolmson'smindwasquiteofftheroblem;andasashrillcock-crowoutsidetoldhimofthearoachofmorning,hewenttobedandtoslee.

HesletsosoundthathewasnotevenwakedbyMrs.Demstercomingintomakeuhisroom.Itwasonlywhenshehadtidieduthelaceandgothisbreakfastreadyandtaedonthescreenwhichclosedinhisbedthathewoke.Hewasalittletiredstillafterhisnight'shardwork,butastrongcuofteasoonfreshenedhimuand,takinghisbook,hewentoutforhismorningwalk,bringingwithhimafewsandwicheslestheshouldnotcaretoreturntilldinnertime.Hefoundaquietwalkbetweenhighelmssomewayoutsidethetown,andherehesentthegreaterartofthedaystudyinghisLalace.OnhisreturnhelookedintoseeMrs.Withamandtothankherforherkindness.Whenshesawhimcomingthroughthediamond-anedbaywindowofhersanctumshecameouttomeethimandaskedhimin.Shelookedathimsearchinglyandshookherheadasshesaid:

"Youmustnotoverdoit,sir.Youarealerthismorningthanyoushouldbe.Toolatehoursandtoohardworkonthebrainisn'tgoodforanyman!Buttellme,sir,howdidyouassthenight?Well,Ihoe?Butmyheart!Sir,IwasgladwhenMrs.Demstertoldmethismorningthatyouwereallrightandsleeingsoundwhenshewentin.

"