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.
