第22章 法官的房子〔7〕

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Againhewascalledtohisimmediatesurroundingssuddenly.Thistimeitmightnothavebeenthesuddensilenceonlywhichtookhisattention;therewasaslightmovementoftheroe,andthelammoved.Withoutstirring,helookedtoseeifhisileofbookswaswithinrange,andthencasthiseyealongtheroe.Ashelookedhesawthegreatratdrofromtheroeontheoakarmchairandsitthereglaringathim.Heraisedabookinhisrighthand,andtakingcarefulaim,flungitattherat.Thelatter,withaquickmovement,srangasideanddodgedthemissile.Hethentookanotherbook,andathird,andflungthemoneafteranotherattherat,buteachtimeunsuccessfully.Atlast,ashestoodwithabookoisedinhishandtothrow,theratsqueakedandseemedafraid.ThismadeMalcolmsonmorethanevereagertostrike,andthebookflewandstrucktherataresoundingblow.Itgaveaterrifiedsqueak,andturningonhisursueralookofterriblemalevolence,ranuthechair-backandmadeagreatjumtotheroeofthealarmbellandranuitlikelightning.Thelamrockedunderthesuddenstrain,butitwasaheavyoneanddidnottoleover.Malcolmsonkethiseyesontherat,andsawitbythelightofthesecondlamleatoamouldingofthewainscotanddisaearthroughaholeinoneofthegreatictureswhichhungonthewall,obscuredandinvisiblethroughitscoatingofdirtanddust.

"Ishalllookumyfriend'shabitationinthemorning,

"saidthestudent,ashewentovertocollecthisbooks.

"Thethirdicturefromthefirelace;Ishallnotforget.

"Heickeduthebooksonebyone,commentingonthemasheliftedthem.

"ConicSectionshedoesnotmind,norCycloidalOscillations,northePrinciia,norQuaternions,norThermodynamics.Nowforthebookthatfetchedhim!

"Malcolmsontookituandlookedatit.Ashedidsohestarted,asuddenalloroversreadhisface.Helookedrounduneasilyandshiveredslightly,ashemurmuredtohimself:

"TheBiblemymothergaveme!Whatanoddcoincidence.

"Hesatdowntoworkagain,andtheratsinthewainscotrenewedtheirgambols.Theydidnotdisturbhim,however;somehowtheirresencegavehimasenseofcomanionshi.Buthecouldnotattendtohiswork,andafterstrivingtomasterthesubjectonwhichhewasengagedgaveituindesair,andwenttobedasthehefirststreakofdawnstoleinthroughtheeasternwindow.

Hesletheavilybutuneasily,anddreamedmuch;andwhenMrs.Demsterwokehimlateinthemorningheseemedillatease,andforafewminutesdidnotseemtorealiseexactlywherehewas.Hisfirstrequestrathersurrisedtheservant.

"Mrs.Demster,whenIamouttodayIwishyouwouldgetthestesanddustorwashthoseictures—seciallythatonethethirdfromthefirelace—Iwanttoseewhattheyare.

"

LateintheafternoonMalcolmsonworkedathisbooksintheshadedwalk,andthecheerfulnessofthereviousdaycamebacktohimasthedayworeon,andhefoundthathisreadingwasrogressingwell.Hehadworkedouttoasatisfactoryconclusionalltheroblemswhichhadasyetbaffledhim,anditwasinastateofjubilationthatheaidavisittoMrs.Withamat

"TheGoodTraveller.

"Hefoundastrangerinthecosysitting-roomwiththelandlady,whowasintroducedtohimasDr.Thornhill.Shewasnotquiteatease,andthis,combinedwiththedoctor'slungingatonceintoaseriesofquestions,madeMalcolmsoncometotheconclusionthathisresencewasnotanaccident,sowithoutreliminaryhesaid:

"Dr.Thornhill,Ishallwithleasureansweryouanyquestionyoumaychoosetoaskmeifyouwillanswermyonequestionfirst.

"

Thedoctorseemedsurrised,buthesmiledandansweredatonce,

"Done!Whatisit?

"

"DidMrs.Withamaskyoutocomehereandseemeandadviseme?

"

Dr.Thornhillforamomentwastakenaback,andMrs.Withamgotfieryredandturnedaway;butthedoctorwasafrankandreadyman,andheansweredatonceandoenly.

"Shedid:butshedidn'tintendyoutoknowit.Isuoseitwasmyclumsyhastehatmadeyoususect.Shetoldmethatshedidnotliketheideaofyourbeinginthathouseallbyyourself,andthatshethoughtyoutooktoomuchstrongtea.Infact,shewantsmetoadviseyouifossibletogiveutheteaandtheverylatehours.Iwasasakeenstudentinmytime,soIsuoseImaytakethelibertyofacollegeman,andwithoutoffence,adviseyounotquiteasastranger.

"

Malcolmsonwithabrightsmileheldouthishand.

"Shake!AstheysayinAmerica,

"hesaid.

"ImustthankyouforyourkindnessandMrs.Withamtoo,andyourkindnessdeservesareturnonmyart.Iromisetotakenomorestrongtea—noteaatalltillyouletme—andIshallgotobedtonightatoneo'clockatlatest.Willthatdo?

"

"Caital,

"saidthedoctor.

"Nowtellusallthatyounoticedintheoldhouse,

"andsoMalcolmsonthenandtheretoldinminutedetailallthathadhaenedinthelasttwonights.HewasinterrutedeverynowandthenbysomeexclamationfromMrs.Witham,tillfinallywhenhetoldoftheeisodeoftheBiblethelandlady'sent-uemotionsfoundventinashriek;anditwasnottillastiffglassofbrandyandwaterhadbeenadministeredthatshegrewcomosedagain.Dr.Thornhilllistenedwithafaceofgrowinggravity,andwhenthenarrativewascomleteandMrs.Withamhadbeenrestoredheasked:

"Theratalwayswentutheroeofthealarmbell?

"

"Always.

"

"Isuoseyouknow,

"saidthedoctorafteraause,

"whattheroeis?

"

"No!

"

"Itis,

"saidthedoctorslowly,

"theveryroewhichthehangmanusedforallthevictimsoftheJudge'sjudicialrancour!

"HerehewasinterrutedbyanotherscreamfromMrs.Witham,andsteshadtobetakenforherrecovery.Malcolmsonhavinglookedathiswatch,andfoundthatitwasclosetohisdinnerhour,hadgonehomebeforehercomleterecovery.