第49章 带家具出租的房间〔4〕

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dthenhetraversedtheroomlikeahoundonthescent,skimmingthewalls,consideringthecornersofthebulgingmattingonhishandsandknees,rummagingmantelandtables,thecurtainsandhangings,thedrunkencabinetinthecorner,foravisiblesign,unabletoerceivethatshewastherebeside,around,against,within,abovehim,clingingtohim,wooinghim,callinghimsooignantlythroughthefinersensesthatevenhisgrosseronesbecamecognisantofthecall.Onceagainheansweredloudly,

"Yes,dear!

"andturned,wild-eyed,togazeonvacancy,forhecouldnotyetdiscernformandcolourandloveandoutstretchedarmsintheodourofmignonette.Oh,God!whencethatodour,andsincewhenhaveodourshadavoicetocall?Thushegroed.

Heburrowedincrevicesandcorners,andfoundcorksandcigarettes.Theseheassedinassivecontemt.Butoncehefoundinafoldofthemattingahalf-smokedcigar,andthishegroundbeneathhisheelwithagreenandtrenchantoath.Hesiftedtheroomfromendtoend.Hefounddrearyandignoblesmallrecordsofmanyaeriatetictenant;butofherwhomhesought,andwhomayhavelodgedthere,andwhosesiritseemedtohoverthere,hefoundnotrace.

Andthenhethoughtofthehousekeeer.

Heranfromthehauntedroomdownstairsandtoadoorthatshowedacrackoflight.Shecameouttohisknock.Hesmotheredhisexcitementasbesthecould.

"Willyoutellme,madam,

"hebesoughther,

"whooccuiedtheroomIhavebeforeIcame?

"

"Yes,sir.Icantellyouagain.TwasSrowlsandMooney,asIsaid.MissB'rettaSrowlsitwasinthetheatres,butMissisMooneyshewas.Myhouseiswell-knownforresectability.Themarriagecertificatehung,framed,onanailover—

"

"WhatkindofaladywasMissSrowls—inlooks,Imean?

"

"Why,black-haired,sir,short,andstout,withacomicalface.TheyleftaweekagoTuesday.

"

"Andbeforetheyoccuiedit?

"

"Why,therewasasinglegentlemanconnectedwiththedrayingbusiness.Heleftowingmeaweek.BeforehimwasMissisCrowderandhertwochildren,thatstayedfourmonths;andbackofthemwasoldMr.Doyle,whosesonsaidforhim.Hekettheroomsixmonths.Thatgoesbackayear,sir,andfurtherIdonotremember.

"

Hethankedherandcretbacktohisroom.Theroomwasdead.Theessencethathadvivifieditwasgone.Theerfumeofmignonettehaddearted.Initslacewastheold,staleodourofmouldyhousefurniture,ofatmoshereinstorage.

Theebbingofhishoedrainedhisfaith.Hesatstaringattheyellow,singinggaslight.Soonhewalkedtothebedandbegantotearthesheetsintostris.Withthebladeofhisknifehedrovethemtightlyintoeverycrevicearoundwindowsanddoor.Whenallwassnugandtautheturnedoutthelight,turnedthegasfullonagainandlaidhimselfgratefullyuonthebed.

ItwasMrs.McCool'snighttogowiththecanforbeer.SoshefetcheditandsatwithMrs.Purdyinoneofthosesubterraneanretreatswherehousekeeersforegatherandthewormdiethseldom.

"Irentedoutmythirdfloor,back,thisevening,

"saidMrs.Purdy,acrossafinecircleoffoam.

"Ayoungmantookit.Hewentutobedtwohoursago.

"

"Now,didye,Mrs.Purdy,ma'am?

"saidMrs.McCool,withintenseadmiration.

"Youdobeawonderforrentin'roomsofthatkind.Anddidyetellhim,then?

"sheconcludedinahuskywhiser,ladenwithmystery.

"Rooms,

"saidMrs.Purdy,inherfurriesttones,

"arefurnishedfortorent.Ididnottellhim,Mrs.McCool.

"

"Thisrightyeare,ma'am;thisbyrentingroomswekaealive.Yehavetheralesenseforbusiness,ma'am.Therebemanyeolewillrayjicttherentingofaroomiftheybetouldasuicidehasbeenafterdyinginthebedofit.

"

"Asyousay,wehasourlivingtobemaking,

"remarkedMrs.Purdy.

"Yis,ma'am;that'strue.ThatjustonewakeagothisdayIheledyelayoutthethirdfloor,back.Arettysliofacolleenshewastobekillingherselfwidthegas—aswatelittlefaceshehad,Mrs.Purdy,ma'am.

"

"She'da-beencalledhandsome,asyousay,

"saidMrs.Purdy,assentingbutcritical,

"butforthatmoleshehada-growingbyherlefteyebrow.Dofilluyourglassagain,Mrs.McCool.

"